Василий Небензя (Российская Федерация) по поводу Грузии и других вопросов - Пресс-подход, Совет Безопасности Встречи с журналистами Date: 20 August 2026 Language: Floor (Original) Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/ru/asset/k11/k11rpr0mmc?lang=floor Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- Russian Federation · Ambassador [0:04]: Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. We know that our western colleagues in the Security Council have scheduled the media's takeout in connection with the events in Tsinwal in August 2008. Before they will try to impose on you the Western interpretation. of those events, we would like to provide you with an objective assessment. Our Western colleagues persist in requesting discussions of an issue that has nothing to do with the Security Council's mandate and brings no added value to its work. In August 2008, the residents of Tsinwal were attacked by the Georgian military over the amendment Saakashvili regime. An armed assault against South Ossetia cynically violated an international agreement agreements on the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia. The sleeping city of Khinwal came under massive artillery fire, after which units of the Georgian army's ground forces and special forces of the Georgian Interior Ministry entered the city. At the same time, an attack was launched against the positions of the Russian peacekeepers. These criminal acts resulted in numerous casualties among the residents of South Ossetia and Russian military personnel. The unprovoked and carefully planned nature of the Georgian aggression, was later officially confirmed. In the report of the Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the conflict in Georgia, established under the auspices of the European Union, and headed by a Swiss diplomat, Heidi Talavini. Recently, a domestic political scandal erupted in Georgia following a statement by former Defense Minister Georgi Baramidze who was an associate of Mr.. Saakashvili and by no means a dove of peace he spoke about war crimes committed by the Georgian side during the conflict in Abkhazia in the early 90s, saying that the Georgians took no prisoners. Given the continued direct threats to the lives of Russian citizens in South Ossetia, the Russian leadership acting in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter decided to launch an operation to compel the Georgian side to make peace. This has also saved the This also saved the South Ossetian people from being eliminated. Having these same objectives in mind, our country recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 26th, 2008. This is fully in line with the aspirations of their people. People's and Russia's cooperation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia serves as a stabilizing factor in the South Caucasus. In October 2008, a new negotiating format was launched. That is the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus. This format replaced the mechanisms for the settlement of the Georgian Abkhaz and Georgian South Ossetian conflicts, which collapsed as a result of the aggression. The principal objective of the Geneva international discussions was to ensure the security of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, by maintaining direct dialogue between the two republics and the Georgian side. This format and its mechanisms for interaction between the parties helped in recent years to maintain a relative calm along the Georgian, Abkhaz, and Georgian South Ossetian borders and to minimise the risks of an escalation of tensions on the ground. What should remain an absolute priority on the agenda of the international discussions of the South Caucasus? is the conclusion of a legally binding agreement on the non use of force between Tbilisi, Sukhum and Cchinwal, as well as the launch of the process of border delimitation followed by demarcation. This is imperative. Without resolving these practical issues, it will be impossible to ensure lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus. At the same time, we regret to note that these remain factors affecting the Geneva, there are remain, there remain factors affecting the Geneva negotiating process and posing a genuine threat to security in the entire South Caucasus region. One such factor is the confrontational cause pursued by the Georgian side, which seeks to use the platforms of various international organizations to discredit Russia and isolate Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The United Nations is no exception. This is also evidenced by the fact that every year, Georgia introduces a highly politicized General Assembly resolution on internally internally displaced persons and refugees. and refugees, which is considered without the participation of representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Nor can we accept our colleagues hypocritical statements about human rights in the region. It is precisely due to western sanctions that the residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia find themselves isolated. We would also like to warn some of our colleagues against advancing a distinctive agenda on the Georgian track. Attempts by the EU to interfere in the country's domestic political situation, as well as to drag Tbilisi into NATO will not lead to anything good. Georgia's current pragmatic leadership is well aware of this. Russia is guided by the interests of preserving and strengthening security in the region. We stand ready to continue engaging with those who care about the fate of the South Caucasus, who are also prepared to provide comprehensive assistance in promoting dialogue between Tbilisi, Sukhum, and Khimwal with a view of establishing to establishing lasting peace and resolving the problems in the region they all share. Thank you. Journalist [7:07]: Okay, Ambassador. Thank you. I have a little bit broader question, but it relates to what you're talking about, I think. The purpose of the Security Council, when it was set up, as you well know better than anyone, was the maintenance of international peace and security. That's the council's job, as you well know. My question is, the council has come under a lot of criticism, especially in recent years, of being deadlocked and the great powers are using the council in various different ways. Do you see it that way? And do you see this, what you're bringing up today, as an example of this? Russian Federation · Ambassador [7:46]: We discussed this issue many times over, and I think that the deadlock you referred to in the Security Council is the reflection and the derivative of the geopolitics that we are facing today. This is one of the issues which which is not in agreement by the Council. some of the Western Council members that does. But this issue was never a part of the Security Council agenda. That's why we think that bringing it to the Council, even in the form of the A or B, as our colleagues voted today, is is excessive, will not lead to the solution because the the the format in which the solution can be found exist what is lacking is the political will by some of the parties AP · Journalist · Edith Lederer [8:44]: Thank you Mr.. Ambassador Edith Lederer from the Associated Press Of course, one of the peace and security issues that the council has not addressed is the ongoing war in Iran. And I wonder if Russia bilaterally, which has relations with Iran, is putting any pressure on the Iranian government to try and resume negotiations and bring that war to an end? Russian Federation · Ambassador [9:27]: Russia, as a matter of principle, does not put any pressure on anybody, be it Iran or any other country. Iran is a sovereign nation. They decide for themselves. We discussed that issue too, and we know that the genesis of the conflict is not in what Iran did or what it didn't do, but the reckless and unprovoked aggression that the US waged against Iran. And I don't think that it is Iran that will fulfill the agreements that were reached between the US and Iran with the help of the mediators. So I don't think that we have to blame Iran for this, but the issue has been discussed in the Council. It didn't happen this year, but I'm sure we will address it. We will address it in the course of the month. RUDAW · Journalist · Namo Abdullah [10:24]: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. This is Namo Abdullah with Rudow. One question. Yesterday, your US colleague at the Security Council accused the president of the General Assembly of overstepping her authority. I just wonder if you share her criticism when it comes to the selection of the Secretary General. And more broadly, this What do you think of the criticism that the selection process lacks transparency and there should be a greater role for the UN General Assembly to play in this? Thank you. Russian Federation · Ambassador [11:01]: I share what my US colleague said yesterday. We didn't make that outspoken statement, but we were concerned with the role the PGA was trying to impose upon herself, and interfering to the process of selection of the candidate of the Secretary General, which is clearly defined both by the Charter and the recent resolution that was adopted by the General Assembly by consensus, by the way, which stipulates how the Secretary General should be he or she should be selected. You talk about transparency. We saw transparency when we saw the results of the first straw poll leaked in about an hour. I think that was a reflection of transparency. That happens every time. But I mean, the speed with which it was done last time was really puzzling. But you know, this is not the case where you need transparency. This is a very delicate process. And it is defined both by the straw polls, but later by the separate voting. And if you if you tell now transparently who one side or another is supporting, you will hurt perhaps the chances of of some of the candidates. So it should be quite discreet like it used to be all the time all the time in the history of the United Nations. PASSBLUE · Journalist · Dulce Leinbach [12:27]: Hi, this is Dulce Leinbach from Pass Blue. Pursuant to that topic, So do you feel that General Assembly dialogue with candidates is necessary or not an imperative? Russian Federation · Ambassador [12:39]: The dialogue is important because it allows membership to to understand what one or another candidate is up to, what his or her program is. And receive a broad understanding of who we are selecting. The question is that all of the candidates, when speaking to the General Assembly, I would not say they are vague, but I mean they will they will they will be delivering delivering messages that would would heed most of the that would be acceptable and receptive by most of the membership. We will not be able to really distinguish exactly exactly how she or he. will will conduct his or her business when selected and elected secretary general. But the dialogues are important, I agree. And that is provided by the resolution as well. PASSBLUE · Journalist · Dulce Leinbach [13:47]: The Security Council dialogues, the private dialogues you're having, are they more useful than the General Assembly dialogues? Russian Federation · Ambassador [13:55]: Well, they are both useful. And we indeed had dialogues with all the candidates today with the two. Amber Staturno and Yvonne Baki. They are important. They help you to understand to understand the position the position of candidates. and and also to to assess the capacity and ability of this or another candidate to be a secretary general. I do not compare these dialects and arrange them by their importance. Both formats are important. Journalist [14:38]: Athenian with the theme of candidates. So how do you think can the UN be the platform for Ukraine crisis resolution? Russian Federation · Ambassador [14:54]: Could you please come back to the candidate? Journalist [14:58]: Yeah, so now there is a process of Choosing the new secretary general. And do you think that under new Secretary General, given his neutrality, the UN can be the platform for Ukraine crisis resolution? Russian Federation · Ambassador [15:21]: Well, of course, a lot depends on the secretary general, on his personality, on her personality, on his or her ability to to engage. And that is what we stress every time we talk to one or another candidate, that that we want more interaction by the new Secretary General with the Security Council, which we were lacking, frankly, especially in recent years with the current one, we would like her or him to be more involved in crisis resolution. But for that, this this newly elected secretary general should should be willing to engage in. With perhaps sometimes a threat that he or she might not be successful. But you have to immerse and to jump into the water and try to to be helpful. It was like with Kofi Annan, who was born bold enough to go to a crisis without without being assured that he would be able to resolve it. But he was always ready to step in. And that's what we're expecting from the new Secretary General. Journalist [16:40]: What the latest entries into the Secretary General's race, do you feel that this is going to fundamentally change your outlook as to who should be the next secretary general. Or, you know, there could be possibilities where we'll get another 2 or 3 people entering. Does that create more of a mess in the Security Council, or does that help? Russian Federation · Ambassador [17:01]: The last entry was was Ivan Baki. Before before that, we wouldn't have any others from the I mean, if you if you start from the first last and first straw poll will there will there be other candidates I do not exclude it if, for example, I'm speculating now if there is a deadlock on any of the candidates that we are seeing today. If nobody of them flies, then I think that we may see other candidates as well. ALJAZEERA · Journalist · Murad Hashem [17:42]: Thank you, Ambassador Murad Hashem from Al Jazeera Arabi. President Trump yesterday announced a new campaign to isolate Iran's economy and threatened the countries that continue to deal with Iran with consequences that might include Russia. What's the Russian position in this regard? Russian Federation · Ambassador [18:04]: We've seen so many sanctions and and pledges to isolate the Russian economy, that we we do not pay too much attention to it, because we we managed to adapt to whatever sanctions they introduced or whatever threats we heard on the way. I think that we will manage. Don't worry about Russia's economy. RUDAW · Journalist · Namo Abdullah [18:33]: Thank you very much. Journalist · Volodymyr Itchenko [18:35]: My name is Volodymyr Itchenko National News Agency of Ukraine. My question concerns Georgia. And now on the eve of mass mobilization, mass mobilization which is expected in Russia after so called farce elections. elections them, thousands and tens of thousands of young Russian men are fleeing to Georgia now. Do you have any comment on that? Russian Federation · Ambassador [19:07]: You are much more aware of what will happen after the elections than I am. I will let's let's see what will happen after the elections. I wouldn't say tens of thousands of young Russians are fleeing to Georgia. You know what is happening with the mobilization in Ukraine better than nobody else. in this environment. So don't worry about mobilization in Russia. I think that it was said many times officially that we don't need massive mobilization at the moment, and it is not planned and expected, as far as I know. But let's see what happens after elections and who is right or who is wrong. Journalist [19:50]: Thank you so much, Ambassador. President Trump has said he wants to declare this trait of Hormuz US territory. What's Russia's position on that one? Russian Federation · Ambassador [19:59]: I don't want to offend anybody and answer this question. But I mean, President Trump claimed many, many territories around the world. Today, today we had a dialogue with the candidates in the Danish mission and the room was called Greenland. Doesn't it remind you anything? He talked about Venezuela, about other other parts of the world. I don't know how it can be done in compliance with the international law. But I mean, President Trump is the master of his own words. let's see what will how he's planning to to implement it Journalist [20:47]: Thank you very much Russian Federation · Ambassador [20:49]: Thank you.