New York, 26 January 2022 (TDI): Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy made a statement at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Afghanistan today.
UNSC has convened an open briefing followed by a close consultation on Afghanistan. Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store is chairing this important meeting. It is to remember that the Taliban delegation is in Oslo for meeting with several Norwegian and civil society leaders.
Secretary-General António Guterres has made introductory remarks. Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Deborah Lyons and a representative of Afghan civil society has also briefed on the occasion.
The Chair of the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee, Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti (India), is also scheduled to provide the annual briefing on the Committee’s activities.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy thanked the concerned authorities of the UN for addressing the Afghan situation on regular basis.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy further said that he has closely followed the statements of Mahbouba Seraj. Above all, Polyansky welcomed the representatives of other countries who analyzed the critical situation of Afghanistan.
#Полянский о положении в #Афганистане: Отмечаем определенные шаги, предпринимаемые новыми властями для решения социальных-экономических, гуманитарных и правочеловеческих проблем, а также для купирования вызовов в области борьбы с терроризмом и наркотикамиhttps://t.co/UWTtXDg9NU pic.twitter.com/K6sp15TyqE
— Russian Mission UN (@RussiaUN) January 26, 2022
Russian Representative further said that to aid attempts and engage Taliban through coercion will be counter-productive. He has called the Western states and donors from across the world to return the frozen funds to the government. These resources are for the people of Afghanistan. He was of the view that the Afghan nation lacks the capacity to cope with the growing challenges and instead faces even greater instability.
#Polyanskiy: Against the lack of relevant potential and resources, including financial resources, the new #Afghan🇦🇫 authorities will hardly be able to resolve all the longstanding problems and new challenges rapidly and effectively while acting alone.
🔗https://t.co/KbrxBAmHh5 pic.twitter.com/NaCYDq7WUC— Russian Mission UN (@RussiaUN) January 26, 2022
Situation in Afghanistan
Along these lines, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations remarked that it has been five months that Afghanistan is under the rule of the Taliban.
Russian Federation is expecting more concrete steps to ensure political inclusiveness. Besides, the Afghan government needs assistance to eradicate terrorism and drug threats. In short, this is the only way to observe fundamental human rights.
In the same vein, Russia wants stability in Afghanistan. Surely, this will preserve the peace of the region and the world as well. But, Afghan authorities are lacking the resources and capabilities to observe peace. Thus, any successful resolution of the Afghan crisis will depend upon all-inclusive international assistance to Afghanistan.
UNSC Resolution 2615
As a result, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations referred to UNSC resolution 2615. Hopefully, this will allow humanitarian relief to Afghanistan with the help of the United Nations, its humanitarian agencies, and other donors. Still, these efforts would not be enough to combat the existing challenges.
Frozen Afghan Assets
Regrettably, the economic system of Afghanistan is paralyzed due to liquidity problems and a crippled banking system. Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations asked the world community to unfreeze these assets on humanitarian grounds.
According to Polyanskiy, Russia wants the United States and other western donors to unfreeze the Afghan assets. Similarly, these assets belong to Afghan people only. It cannot be used as a bargaining tool. In short, the West can’t punish Afghan people like that way.
To clarify, Afghanistan is witnessing a new reality that has evolved the region as well. In this regard, the collapse of the economic system will cause unprecedented challenges. This may include an increased number of refugees and terrorist activities. Correspondingly, it will boost drug enterprises and other criminal activities as well. As a result, there will be increased uncertainty in the region and beyond.
Need for Diplomacy and Dialogue
Subsequently, Russia wants to avoid the language of ultimatums and pressure while talking to the new Afghan authorities. Unfortunately, this leverage is counter-productive. And, the world needs to learn from the mistakes of the past. Perhaps, he is of the view that the need of the hour is diplomacy and dialogue.
In the end, Polyanskiy stated that the Afghan situation will affect the future of UNAMA. He further remarked that Russia expects that the UN will provide recommendations and well-considered calculations in the next report.
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