Russia and sanctions agenda of the United Nations (to the forthcoming 66th session of UN General Assembly)

We consider the sanctions imposed pursuant to the UN decisions to be an important political and diplomatic instrument for resolving international conflicts and crisis situations. At the same time, these sanctions should pursue explicit and legitimate aims, timeframes, be subject to periodic review, and conditions should be clearly set for lifting the sanctions or granting exemptions from them. The UN Security Council and sanctions committees should enjoy all the controlling powers. Preference should be given to targeted restrictions against the instigators of conflicts. It is unacceptable to use sweeping sanctions that may harm civil population.

The Organization’s Member States should consider the provisions of the UN SC sanction resolutions to be a norm that is not subject to unduly broad or arbitrary interpretation. We oppose the States’ use of unilateral sanctions. Measures introduced in circumvention of the UN Security Council may undermine international political and diplomatic efforts, as well as weaken the integrity of the world community. Moreover, due to their extra-territorial character such measures frequently lead to the violation of sovereignty and interests of the third States that are engaged in legal international economic activities and respect the UN SC decisions.

Russia’s stance on the economic, trade and financial blockade that the USA imposed on Cuba remains unchanged: we share the opinion of the overwhelming majority of the UN Member States who strongly condemn the American embargo against Cuba and call for lifting it. We have taken note of certain steps that the Obama Administration has made to ease the sanctions, nonetheless we believe this is not enough. In fact, only the additional restrictions introduced during George W. Bush’s presidency have been lifted by now.