Russia Expresses Concern Over Rights Violations in the Ukraine at UN Human Rights Council Session

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During the 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Genève, the Russian delegation expressed its concern over numerous violations of human rights and freedoms in the Ukraine. In particular, delegation head Olga Chekrizova noted the increasing number of infringements on freedom of speech and attacks on journalists. She said during the discussion on the 22nd quarterly report of the UN mission in the Ukraine:

We share the UN’s concern over the growth of attacks on the freedom to express opinions, the freedom of the media, as well as by physical attacks on journalists. In January-March of this year, there were attacks on 21 media workers and we recorded 71 violations of freedom of speech. We condemn the expulsion of Russian journalists from the Ukraine and the arrest of the RIA Novosti Ukraine chief. Russia is seriously concerned by the persistently high level of arbitrary detention, torture, inhumane treatment, and sexual violence in areas adjacent to the Line of Contact in the Donbass. According to UN estimates, Ukrainian law-enforcement officers are responsible for about 75 percent of those crimes. Just like the observer mission, we’re convinced by stalled investigations into violations related to activities of the Mirotvorets website, and by the emergence of similar databases, such as the Parazyt Centre. The level of hate rhetoric and crimes has been on the rise in Ukrainian society… in the period between 16 February and 15 March, we recorded 23 attacks on dissidents, anti-corruption/human rights activists, and Romani.

The Russian delegation also urged Kiev to follow UN recommendations regarding its biased law on education, which infringes on the right of ethnic minorities to have an education in their native language.

4 July 2018

TASS

http://tass.com/world/1011873

UN Special Rapporteur: Millions of US Citizens Live in Third World Conditions

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More than 40 million US citizens live in poverty and some five million live in Third World conditions because of inhumane government policies, UN investigators revealed in a report. UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Philip Alston said in a report released on Monday:

For one of the world’s wealthiest countries to have 40 million people living in poverty and over five million living in Third World conditions is cruel and inhuman. The Trump Administration’s tax reform bill is facilitating inequality by attacking the US welfare system. Poverty in the USA appears to be fuelled by contempt along with a “winner takes all” mentality. Individuals in poverty are prone to being jailed. The US legal system is used to raise revenue for states instead of its mission to promote justice. About 11 million people are sent to local jails each year in the USA. The USA now has the highest income inequality in the Western world, the highest incarceration rate in the entire world, and one of the lowest turnout rates in elections amongst developed countries.

The findings are the result of a UN fact-finding team that visited the US states of California, Alabama, Georgia, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, and Washington DC from 1-15 December 2017.

5 June 2018

Sputnik International              

https://sputniknews.com/us/201806051065101581-usa-un-report-citizens-poverty/

UN Ambassador Nabenzya Sez Disengagement of Forces in Southwest Syria to Take Place Shortly

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On Friday, Ambassador to the UN V A Nebenzya noted the existence of an agreement on disengagement of forces in southwestern Syria and stated that’d come into effect shortly in comments on reports concerning an agreement regarding the pullout of Iranian forces from southern Syria. He said:

I heard the news that was in the press and elsewhere about an agreement reached on disengagement in southwestern Syria and I think my understanding is that an agreement was reached, whether it’s been implemented as of now I can’t answer, but I understand that the parties involved in reaching the agreement are satisfied with what they reached. If it hasn’t been done by now, it’ll be done in the near future.

On 31 May, Israeli ambassador in Moscow Gary Koren told us that the Israeli government was satisfied with Russia’s position on the Iranian military presence on the Syrian-Israeli border. He said Israel and Russia held intense discussions regarding Iranian deployments in Syria, which he believes are aimed at Israel. Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs S V Lavrov said:

Only Syrian troops should remain at the Syrian-Israeli border. The agreements reached in 2017 envisioned a pullout of all the foreign troops from that zone of de-escalation.

In the meantime, earlier this week, Syrian President Assad told RT there had never been any “Iranian troops” in Syria.

2 June 2018

TASS

http://tass.com/politics/1007683

Russia’s UN Envoy Reminds Nikki Haley Russia has Legally-Elected Government, Not a “Régime”

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Russian Permanent Representative to the UN V A Nebenzya responded to his American colleague, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, who branded the state system in Russia “the Putin régime” and criticised Moscow for its policy towards the Ukraine. The delegations of the two countries exchanged remarks at a meeting of the UN Security Council dedicated to the maintenance of international peace by implementing the principles of the UN Charter. In her speech, Haley argued that dictators violate human rights and incite violence, and provoke regional conflicts under the guise of the principle of sovereignty. She cited the behaviour of leaders of Iran, the DPRK, and Syria as an example, and mentioned Moscow’s policy:

In the Ukraine, Russia remains an occupying force in the Crimea and a destabilising force in the Eastern Ukraine. Let me repeat… the sovereign rights of nations are fundamental. However, when we don’t uphold the principle of sovereignty by allowing the Kim, Assad, and Putin régimes to act with impunity, just the opposite is true. When the Security Council provides accountability for nations that violate the UN Charter, we protect sovereignty. Such was the case in 1990 when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

Nebenzya responded:

I’d like to remind Ambassador Haley that Russia doesn’t have a régime, but a legally-elected president and appointed government. I’d like to ask the American delegation in the future to adhere to at least basic diplomatic decency. By the way, Syria, too, has a legitimate government, whether someone likes it or not.

Forming a New World Order

According to Nebenzya:

For some states, it’s difficult to accept the obvious thing. The era of the Cold War, as well as the post-bipolar stage, has ended. The world is establishing a new, more just, democratic, polycentric world order. Its essence is in the emergence and strengthening of new centres of economic power and political influence. The topic of this meeting is very relevant for the current state of international relations, as the principles of independence and equality of states, as well as non-interference in their internal affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes, represent the basis of good-neighbourly relations between countries and mutually beneficial cooperation for the common good. Unfortunately, throughout the UN’s history, the world witnessed numerous examples of blatant disregard for the UN Charter up to the illegal use of force, undisguised interference in the affairs of states, destruction of traditional social principles, forcible change of power, and the imposition of alien cultural and social norms. Look at the bombing of Yugoslavia and Libya carried out in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, as well as the occupation of Iraq under false pretences.

Anniversary of Agreement to Resolve the Ukrainian Crisis

In addition, Nebenzya recalled:

21 February marks the fourth anniversary of signing the agreement on the political settlement in the Ukraine, which was violated the next day by oppositionists who seized power in Kiev with the silent non-resistance of its guarantors. Open incitement from the outside led to an unconstitutional transformation of power in the Ukraine, a mushrooming of nationalism and neo-Nazism, internal armed conflict, and numerous victims in the southeast. Russia remains committed to an early settlement to the Ukrainian conflict; however, as long as Kiev sabotages the Minsk process and tells tales to the world about what’s happening, there’s little hope for a constructive development of events.

The meeting on Wednesday was held upon the initiative of Kuwait, which took the UN Security Council’s monthly presidency in February.

22 February 2018

TASS

http://tass.com/politics/991188