The 70^th Session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 15, 2015 in New York. UN member states are expected to discuss a wide range of the most urgent global and international issues during this high-profile international forum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the General Assembly on the first day of the general debate, September 28, and will also hold a number of bilateral meetings.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be accompanying the President, with over 50 events on his schedule. On September 27, Mr Lavrov will address the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda. On top of a number of bilateral meetings, Mr Lavrov will also attend the meetings of foreign ministers within multilateral and regional organisations, including CSTO and BRICS, the Middle East Quartet, as well as high-level themed events on current issues on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. A meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also on the minister’s schedule.

On September 30, the UN Security Council will hold a ministerial meeting under Russia’s Presidency on Maintaining International Peace and Security: Settling Conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and Combatting Terrorism. The Foreign Ministry expects all UN member states to proactively contribute to this high-level open debate in the Security Council.

Russia will be persistent, within the UN, in opposing attempts to distort history and revise the outcome of the Second World War. To this effect, Russia will once again submit a draft resolution on the unacceptability of glorifying Nazism to the UN General Assembly and urge all delegations to oppose the glorification of war criminals and collaborationists, as well as unambiguously condemn new forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.

For Russia, the terrorist threat is currently the most urgent global challenge that requires cooperation from the international community under the coordination of the United Nations and based on the UN Charter, the relevant standards and principles of international law and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. This above all relates to efforts aimed at preventing terrorism, combatting the spread of extremist and violent ideologies, and the use of the media to this effect. Russia is willing to work with other countries in addressing the issue of foreign terrorist fighters, and breaking the bond between terrorism and various kinds of criminal activity, including drug trafficking and the illegal trade of natural resources and cultural heritage items.

Seeking to prevent the danger of the arms race spreading into outer space, Russia will promote its now-traditional initiative on transparency and confidence building in outer space. We will continue backing initiatives regarding international information security so that information and communications systems are not used to criminal, terrorist, military or political ends, or to interfere in domestic affairs.

Russia views its multidimensional cooperation with regional organisations as an important factor for making the UN more efficient. We intend to direct our efforts within the UN towards further enhancing cooperation with the CIS countries, CSTO and the SCO members, and coming up with common approaches within BRICS.

Seeking to promote cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the United Nations, along with our partners, Russia will continue its efforts to secure observer status for the EAEU in the General Assembly and some specialised agencies of the United Nations. This is expected to strengthen ties between the two organisations, as well as make it easier for them to coordinate efforts for promoting peace, security and cooperation on the regional and global levels.

Russia stands ready to actively contribute to the effective implementation of the Global Development Agenda, which is expected to provide an impetus to multilateral efforts to bring about economic progress and sustainable development. In doing so, Russia will be guided by its national priorities and its international commitments. As an advocate of solidarity, Russia will continue to make a substantial contribution to the international development agenda by creating and strengthening the economic, intellectual, information, research and development potential of its partner countries. We will consistently strive to step up cooperation with UN agencies, including operational programmes and funds.

Russia believes the ranking of the Sustainable Development Goals by priority to be inappropriate and sees the main purpose of the new development agenda to end poverty in all its forms as has been agreed to in the UN General Assembly.

We support the initiative by the UN Secretary-General to convene the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May 2016. Russia assumes that this summit can only produce a tangible political outcome and make a real difference if the agreements are coordinated through an intergovernmental format. We oppose any radical changes in the existing system and the review of humanitarian response principles. That said, Russia is ready to find ways to ensure predictable and lasting funding for humanitarian operations.

September 26, 2015