UN: Nebenzia calls for ‘restraint’ to avoid broader conflict after attack on Saudi oil facilities

W/S Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia starting press conference, New York City
SOT, Vasily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations: "Now we have a ceasefire in Idlib violated by Jihadists. Every time there is a ceasefire violation it has been initiated by the rebels and as I told you at the press conference in the beginning of our presidency, ironically, it was also violated by the US on the first day of the ceasefire on the 31st of August when they air raided two places, Maarat Misrin and Kafar Khaya, where, by the way, civilian casualties were also reported."
M/S Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Vasily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations: "On the situation in the gulf and the recent attacks they were unanimously and unequivocally condemned by all security council members, us included. It is inadmissible that civil objects and social economic infrastructure are being targeted. What we said is that we should not hurry with conclusions because there are conflicting reports on who did it. Ansarullah took the responsibility, the United States is saying that they know for sure it was Iran, we don't have a clear picture, but the response was unequivocal by the Security Council. On 'locked and loaded,' of course we are very concerned that incidents similar to this may provoke larger conflict in the gulf. The gulf and the surrounding area of the Middle East have enough problems besides this, and a major conflict in the gulf would be definitely a disaster, we would want to avoid it at any cost and calling on all our partners to demonstrate restraint."
M/S Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Vasily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations: "Of course one of the major things that they will be discussing in the implementation of the Sochi memorandum on the Idlib de-escalation zone and how to effectively implement it. We know that there were some issues with it and we really hope that the meeting, that the summit in Turkey will provide us with a breakthrough on it."
M/S Cameramen *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Vasily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations: "The former and the current secretary generals are saying that there is no military solution in Syria and we are not as naive as to believe that the military victory over terrorists, which was a necessary thing, would be suffice to end the conflict altogether. That's why we are having the political track, that's why we are trying to establish the constitutional committee that would go into discussing what the Syrian future will be."
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Vasily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations: "If you mean by extra mile engaging in talk with terrorists, I think that is absolutely a non-issue. We started to notice this recently that some of our partners for example the US started to say that Hayat Tahrir Al-sham is not a terrorist anymore, they emancipated, they became more civilised they organise civil administration in Idlib, they are running daily lives etc. Of course, they are trying to change their colours, but that does not change the terrorist essence of that organisation."
W/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SCRIPT
Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia called for "restraint" when commenting on the recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities while speaking to the press at the UN Headquarters New York City on Monday, though reiterated that the attacks were "unanimously and unequivocally condemned by all security council members, us included."
"It is inadmissible that civil objects and social economic infrastructure are being targeted. What we said is that we should not hurry with conclusions because there are conflicting reports on who did it. Ansarullah took the responsibility, the United States is saying that they know for sure it was Iran, we don't have a clear picture," Nebenzia said.
The Top Russian Diplomat went on to comment on remarks made made by US President Donald Trump on Twitter that the United States was "locked and loaded depending on verification" of the culprits, saying "of course, we are very concerned that incidents similar to this may provoke larger conflict in the gulf. The gulf and the surrounding area of the Middle East have enough problems besides this, and a major conflict in the gulf would be definitely a disaster, we would want to avoid it at any cost and calling on all our partners to demonstrate restraint."
When asked about the trilateral meeting between the presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran in Ankara, Nebenzia said, "Of course one of the major things that they will be discussing in the implementation of the Sochi memorandum on the Idlib deescalation zone and how to effectively implement it."
Nebenzia also touched upon the situation in Idlib saying that the ceasefire in the area was "violated by Jihadists." In addition, the Russian envoy said that it was also violated by the United States on the first day of the ceasefire, August 31.
Mandatory Credit: UNTV