Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia called on Western colleagues in the Security Council not to waste time and not to try to open previously closed border crossings on the border of Syria to deliver humanitarian aid to the regions of the country and to cooperate in these matters with the official authorities of the Arab Republic.
"Don't waste time trying to open closed border crossings. The UN office for humanitarian Affairs should be encouraged to work with Damascus to find ways to deliver aid through open border crossings and through Syria itself, " he said, in particular, at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
The regime of simplified delivery of humanitarian and medical supplies to Syria from neighboring states (primarily through the border with Turkey) through the front lines and border crossings, as RIA Novosti writes, has been in effect since July 2014.
The mechanism was established by UN Security Council resolution 2165 and was extended annually. According to this resolution, the UN humanitarian agencies and their partners were entitled to use routes through the lines of confrontation and the Bab al-Salam, Bab al-Hawa, al-Yarubiya and al-Ramta checkpoints.
In early January, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution by Belgium and Germany to extend the mechanism for six months, while reducing the number of border checkpoints from four to two.
The points on the border with Turkey, Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa, remain active. This decision was supported by Russia, China, and Syria.
In particular, according to Russia's position, there is no need for two border crossings, since the situation "on the ground" has changed. According to the Russian side, the Syrian authorities have taken control of territories previously held by terrorists and are able to deliver humanitarian supplies there themselves. The reduction in the number of border crossings is extremely unsatisfactory for Western partners in the Security Council.
During the UN Security Council meeting the day before, a number of Western colleagues, including representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States, supported the opening of the border crossing of al-Yarubiya (on the border of Syria and Iraq).
Nebenzia recalled that initially the mechanism for cross-border assistance was temporary and involved the delivery of humanitarian supplies to areas of Syria that were not controlled by Damascus.
"When discussing resolutions on the mechanism for cross-border humanitarian assistance, we always agreed on its urgent but temporary status. Don't pretend that you don't know about it or that you might want to forget it. Stop pursuing your own political dividends that have nothing to do with humanitarian principles," he said.
Separately, Nebenzia focused on the report of the group of experts of the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on Libya, concerning the alleged presence of "Russian mercenaries" in this country. The report, according to the Russian diplomat, is based on unverified or falsified data.
Two weeks ago, the Western media published articles on a confidential report of a group of experts, which claimed that employees of "Wagner" private security company , as well as some other companies are present in Libya and support the forces of Khalifa Haftar. During a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, British Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Jonathan Allen noted that London is concerned about reports that external parties continue to provide materials, equipment, and mercenaries to Libya. Allen pointed out that the British side notes the existence of reports about the activities of the Wagner group in Libya. According to him, the activities of the Wagner group "continue to aggravate the conflict and prolong the suffering of the Libyan people."
"We have heard a lot of speculation about the so-called "Russian mercenaries". The representative of Great Britain even in a very original way shifted the responsibility for all the problems and misfortunes of Libya to them. I would like to remind you that the source of the problems that Libya is facing today is the NATO aggression that destroyed the Libyan state, " Nebenzia was quoted by RIA Novosti.
However, according to him, today colleagues in the Security Council "bypass this moment and pretend that they do not hear anything." The Russian side is still studying the report, but the initial reading of the text has allowed us to draw some conclusions.
"We note again that the concept of a private military company is not provided for by Russian law. Even excerpts from Russian laws are interpreted incorrectly by experts in their report and treated very loosely, " Nebenzia said.
"For the most part, the report is based on unverified or clearly falsified data and is aimed at discrediting Russia's policy in the Libyan direction," he stressed.
According to him, experts use sources of dubious properties that have a direct interest in the Libyan conflict.
"A significant number – not one or two-of links to certain materials do not work. This can be checked by anyone. It is impossible to prove the reliability of a number of calculations, especially those based on so - called "internal negotiations"," the Russian Ambassador said.
"Many of the information, especially concerning the Russian citizens mentioned in the report, is simply unfounded. The people allegedly fighting in Libya did not actually leave our country. The so-called "wounded" are quite healthy. This is all available in the public space and again verifiable, " he said.
It is noteworthy that the lists selected by experts were copied from the odious "Mirotvorets" Ukrainian database , Nebenzia added. According to him, a lot of mistakes or deliberate falsifications in the report were made in relation to weapons. "Another forgery is photos from Syria that are being passed off as Libyan landscapes," Nebenzia said.
"We repeat that there are no Russian military in Libya. However, we are aware of foreign military personnel in the country, and this is not just about international terrorists. We can name several countries. I assure you that what you hear will surprise you," the diplomat said.
According to him, the Russian side is extremely concerned about the leak of the report to the press. "This is not the first time that the report of the group of experts has been leaked. We demand an investigation of what happened by the UN Secretariat, " he said.
After the overthrow and death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, there is a dual power in Libya. The East is ruled by Parliament elected by the people, and the West, in the capital Tripoli, - Government of National accord formed with the support of the UN and the European Union, headed by Fayez Sarraj.
The authorities in the Eastern part of the country operate independently of Tripoli and cooperate with the Libyan National Army led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who has not stopped trying to capture Tripoli since April 2019.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Zuma \ TASS