Unofficial translation

1. The 68th session of the UN General Assembly should aim at consolidating collective approaches to world politics with a central coordinating role of the United Nations as a unique mechanism for ensuring global stability. The only way to address current threats and challenges in an effective and comprehensive manner is to use collectively coordinated approaches and produce solutions taking into account a wide range of Member States' positions.

2. We have consistently called for the recognition of a polycentric world order, equal and indivisible security in full conformity with the UN Charter basic principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity of any State, inadmissibility of intervention in the domestic affairs and respect for peoples' right to self-determination.

3. A just and democratic world order cannot be achieved without a strict observance of the principles of the supremacy of international law, mainly of the UN Charter and the prerogatives of the UN Security Council as the main body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.

4. All the decisions taken and mandates given by the UN Security Council are binding on all Member States and should not be subject to a selective or arbitrary interpretation to satisfy any unilateral proposals and political projects intended to change regimes and implant specific development models, which destabilizes the situation both in countries and entire regions.

5. The efforts to reform the United Nations and adapt it to current realities should be aimed at safeguarding its intergovernmental nature and be in full compliance with the charter principle of labour division among its main bodies.

The purpose of the reform of the UN Security Council is to achieve broader representation without damaging the effectiveness and efficiency of its work, and timely decision-making process. It is necessary to keep searching for a compromise reform model which would enjoy the broadest support within the UN, i.e. much stronger than binding a vote of two-thirds of the Members, provided for by the UN Charter. Whatever reform model is adopted, the prerogatives of the current permanent Members, including their right of veto, must remain intact.

6. The UN peacekeeping activity is an important tool of conflict resolution.

We are committed to the inviolability of the UN peacekeeping principles of the consent of the receiving state, the neutrality and the non-use of force. The trend towards exaggerating the components of the UN missions' mandates involving the use of force, which go beyond the customary UN peacekeeping practice, requires a balanced approach. It is inappropriate to reduce peacekeeping efforts to the protection of civilians alone which is a primary responsibility of national governments. Peacekeepers are still expected to perform essential functions, including to observe disengagement, provide security in conflict areas, facilitate political process in countries of deployment etc.

7. We believe that the effectiveness of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and the output of country-based configurations should be increased. Since 2008 Russia has been annually contributing USD 2 mln. to the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

8. We consider sanctions as one of the Security Council important instruments to facilitate political and diplomatic settlement of international conflicts. Sanctions should be targeted, introduced by the UN Security Council, and lead to suppression of destructive and unlawful activity of the parties responsible for giving rise to and continuing conflict situations. They should be subject to regular reviews, provide for humanitarian exemptions, limitations on duration, and clear-cut criteria for lifting. Use of unilateral sanctions, which undermines collective international political and diplomatic efforts, is unacceptable and proved to be totally counterproductive.

9. Along with the overwhelming majority of the international community members, Russia strongly condemns the trade and economic blockade imposed by the USA on Cuba and stands for the earliest abolition of this meaningless anti-Cuban practice.

10. The increased cooperation between the UN and regional organizations is essential for prevention and settlement of crisis situations and post-conflict reconstruction. We support the enhanced collaboration between the UN and the CSTO, CIS, and SCO. Signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the CSTO Secretariat and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the UN Secretariat in September 2012 represents a positive step.

11. Settlement of the Syrian crisis is possible exclusively within the political and diplomatic framework through complete cessation of armed confrontation and, violence, and launch of a comprehensive dialogue between the parties to the conflict so that the Syrians themselves could agree upon the future parameters of their country's development, as well as through ensuring of rights and security of all ethno-confessional groups. A political process could be initiated on the basis of the provisions of the Geneva Communiqué of the Action Group for Syria of June 30, 2012, and the agreement between Russia and the US of May 7, 2013, to implement these provisions by convening an international conference on Syria.

International efforts to end the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic should be built on the principles of the UN Charter, recognition of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unilateral actions and military intervention would lead to total destabilization of the situation in Syria and in the region and stepping-up of terrorist threat. The Russian side intends to continue substantive preparations for an international conference on Syria as a measure to reverse these negative trends as soon as possible.

12. Efforts to bring about a lasting and just Palestinian-Israeli settlement should be based on the UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid principles, the roadmap, and the Arab Peace Initiative. We stand for the creation of a sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, with the agreed territorial exchanges and with East Jerusalem as its capital, that would live side by side with Israel in peace and security.

We consider it necessary to preserve the leading mediating role of the Middle East Quartet, and to ensure that key regional actors, the League of Arab States, and the parties themselves are involved in its endeavours.

13. Support of efforts to stabilize the situation in Iraq is a long-term objective of the international community in the Middle East. Aggravated domestic policy problems should be settled through peaceful means on the basis of an inclusive dialogue involving all the ethno-confessional groups. We support the efforts of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.

14. The international community should further maintain its focus on the situation in Libya. Extra efforts are required to strengthen state administration, including at the local level, to reform security sector, and ensure the integration of former armed opposition members. Detention of the persons arrested in prisons controlled by "revolutionary brigades" that are not administered by the central government is inadmissible. Of specific concern is the fact that the country is becoming a destabilizing source of illicit arms proliferation in the region and beyond. Arms embargo should be strictly observed.

15. The situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is far from being stable and tends to deteriorate as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is withdrawing. To avoid the collapse it is required to enhance combat capabilities of the Afghan security forces that will have to control security in their country independently.

We are deeply concerned about the continued overflow of terrorist activity from the northern provinces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the neighboring countries of Central Asia.

NATO's new mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan should have a clear legal framework that would allow other countries to interact with it. We believe that the best way is to establish it by the decision of the UN Security Council.

However, we reject the continued long-term foreign military presence in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan which may lead to increased tensions in the region and can be used to repeat the same use-of-force scenarios in the neighboring countries. This is a matter of concern for other States of the region as well.

We support the efforts made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to promote national reconciliation. A dialogue with the armed opposition is possible only under the leadership of Kabul and if the basic principles of reconciliation are respected.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) should remain a focal point of international civilian efforts to stabilize the situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. We call for enhanced interaction of UNAMA with CSTO and SCO which play an increasing role in promoting the settlement process in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Drug production in Afghanistan poses a threat to international peace and stability. We support the expansion of the UN functions to monitor the suppression of drug production and trafficking. It is important to invigorate international efforts in this area. The Moscow-Paris Pact remains one of the most effective international instruments for countering drug threat from Afghanistan.

16. Activities relating to the issues of the so-called "internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees" from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, artificially stimulated by Georgia at the UN, are politicized and counterproductive in terms of creating a climate of trust in the Transcaucasian region and resolving humanitarian tasks. It is detrimental to Geneva discussions as the only working format for discussing the whole range of issues between the Georgian, Abkhasian and South Ossetian sides.

17. We stand for a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem through a dialogue between the sides and creation of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the high-level agreements of 1977 and 1979. External engagement in the settlement process, including efforts undertaken within the UN Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission, should be complementary and unbiased. It is unacceptable to impose unrealistic negotiations schedules and external arbitration.

18. Our position of not recognizing Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence is based on the principles of international law in accordance with the relevant approaches taken by the Serbian side. The UN Security Council resolution 1244, a binding international legal framework for reaching Kosovo settlement, remains in full force. The political dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina should lead to stabilization of the situation in the region and guaranteed security of minorities, cultural and religious heritage. The international presences in the region with the UN Mission in Kosovo as the central one should act on the basis of status neutrality and fully implement their mandates.

19. We are concerned with the fact that the situation in the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa is degrading. To prevent and settle it requires holistic approaches that reflect interconnection between the issues of peace and security, social and economic development and human rights. We believe that the continent's destiny is largely in the hands of African people themselves. We note some progress in the development of the African Peace and Security Architecture. We call for the enhanced partnership between the UN and the African Union and subregional organizations of the continent in the conflict resolution.

20. We support further inter-Sudanese negotiations without external pressure in order to find compromise arrangements on outstanding complicated issues including the status of disputed territories, particularly the Abyei Area.

We urge all parties to fully implement their package agreements of September 22, 2012. It is important to maintain the parties' commitment to peaceful settlement of differences.

We consider unacceptable the actions of the rebel groups in Sudan aimed at overthrowing the government in Khartoum, as well as their outside support.

We are seriously concerned about the deteriorated security situation of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) staff. We insist on bringing to justice those responsible for deaths of Russian pilots, members of the helicopter crew, contracted by the UNMISS and shot down by the South Sudanese army.

21. A lasting and viable settlement of the crisis in Mali provoked in particular by the Libyan conflict is only possible through political means with the leading role played by the Malians themselves. Deployment of the UN Stabilization Mission aimed solely at providing assistance to national authorities should go hand in hand with practical steps to restore constitutional order and establish a comprehensive political dialogue between the key Malian parties.

22. A comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation around Iran's nuclear program (INP) can only be achieved by political and diplomatic means through further talks between the six-nation group and Iran in the spirit of mutual respect and on the basis of phased approach and reciprocity.

23. The recent developments on the Korean peninsula and around it bring into focus the tasks of political and diplomatic settlement of its nuclear problem through the resumption of the six-party talks, strict observance of the provisions of the Security Council resolutions and implementation of the effective confidence-building measures in the Northeast Asia. It is unacceptable to build up foreign military presence in the region under the pretext of responding to Pyongyang's actions.

24. As for the disarmament triad of the Organization (the GA First Committee, the UN Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament), it is necessary for the last two mechanisms to revitalize their activities and overcome the stagnation, which is rooted in politics. We must counter destructive proposals that might potentially cause degradation of the whole UN multilateral mechanism of disarmament. We believe that it is important to search for mutually acceptable solutions on the basis of the current rules of procedure in order to save that mechanism.

25. We support the strengthening of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in all its aspects – nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, peaceful use of atomic energy and other WMD non-proliferation regimes, ensuring the universality of the Treaty and establishment of favorable conditions for further reduction in nuclear potentials by all nuclear States. Any challenges and threats to the nuclear non-proliferation regime should be addressed only on the basis of the NPT. It is important to work both on the implementation of decisions of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and on possible further steps towards its strengthening. The priority is the rigorous compliance with the NPT's non-proliferation obligations by all its States Parties and prevention of any attempts to revise the NPT's provisions.

26. The International Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the UN GA contains provisions that are, at least, dubious and controversial. Therefore, at the UN General Assembly we abstained from voting on the resolution opening the Treaty for signature. Our decision on whether it is appropriate to accede to the Treaty will be taken later after the thorough study of its text by our agencies is completed.

27. We intend to actively impede the expansion of an arms race in new spheres, primarily the outer space. In this context, we look forward to useful outcomes of the work of the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities.

Almost unanimous (except for the U.S. and Israel) support of the resolution on the Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space demonstrates the priority of talks on an international legal agreement on the prevention of the deployment of weapons in outer space, that could include measures of transparency and trust.

28. We will continue our work on issues of international information security (IIS). Intensified international efforts are needed to prevent the use of information and communication technologies for criminal, terrorist and politico-military purposes, as well as for interference in the internal affairs of States.

29. We are closely monitoring the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and support its efforts to combat impunity. The Security Council and the ICC should collaborate strictly within the framework of their mandates. The Court should carry out its activities taking due account of the politicalefforts to resolve crisis situations, in particular without hampering the Security Council peacekeeping operations.

30. The role of the international community within the scope of the "responsibility to protect" concept should be limited to assisting States and developing their potential. We place a priority on strengthening the early warning systems and other preventive tools. If peaceful settlement means are inadequate and national authorities are unable to protect their citizens, international intervention should be considered as a last resort to be employed in strict accordance with the UN Charter, i.e. with the authorization of the Security Council.

31. Terrorism remains an extremely serious threat to global peace and security. To counteract this threat, the international community should take coordinated actions under the UN auspices based on the UN Charter, the SC resolutions and principles and rules of international law. Full realization of the potential of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, especially in preventing terrorism, combating the ideology of extremism and violence, and using mass media (including the Internet) for terrorist purposes, is of vital importance. We call for increasing adherence to the UN counter-terrorism conventions, providing practical assistance in their implementation and strengthening the legal framework of international counter-terrorism interaction. We support consolidated efforts of the international community aimed at counteracting terrorist challenges and threats in the tourism industry.

32. In the context of the rising trend against the war on drugs, further mobilization of efforts is required to address the global drug-related threat, as well as maintain and preserve the integrity of the global drug control regime established by the applicable UN drug conventions. Attempts to decriminalize illicit drug trafficking and to impose controversial methods as a "global standard" in combating drugs, in particular within the framework of "harm reduction", which contravenes to the anti-drug conventions, are counterproductive. Of fundamental importance is to strengthen the international precursor control regime.

33. We stand for increasing the number of participants and ensuring effective implementation of the main UN anti-crime conventions: against transnational organized crime (and its Protocols) and against corruption. We support international collaboration towards establishing an efficient global mechanism to review progress in the implementation of the Convention, launching effective procedures for the return of corrupt assets to countries of origin, as well as enhancing technical assistance to the countries concerned. We devote particular attention to the preparation of the sixth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention to be held in Russia in 2015.

34. We support further enhancement of interfaith and inter-cultural cooperation with a view to preventing civilizacional conflicts. We stand for broad discussions of these issues within the frameworks of the Alliance of Civilizations and the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, the Ministerial meetings on interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace, and the World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs launched at the UN General Assembly.

35. We believe that the intergovernmental cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights is extremely important. It is for the States to bear the main responsibility, while international institutions and mechanisms have a supportive role. The UN human rights architecture should function in compliance with the principle of equitable and mutually respectful cooperation without politicizing, but with the focus on the technical assistance to be provided to the countries in protecting human rights and freedoms. We seek to reduce the level of confrontation in this area in order to improve the effectiveness of the UN human rights efforts. We will continue doing so if re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council for 2014–2016.

36. We are consistently stating that it is inadmissible to distort the history and to revise the outcomes of the Second World War. We will again promote the draft of traditional General Assembly resolution "Glorification of Nazism: inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" aimed at countering neo-Nazi and revanchist tendencies in the world. The majority of States traditionally vote for this resolution. Hopefully, those delegations that abstained or voted against this initiative last year, will join the fight against new forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and will condemn the glorification of war criminals and collaborators.

37. We support the activities of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and make an annual contribution of USD 2 mln. to its budget. In order to enhance the Office's work, it is necessary to improve its transparency and accountability to the UN Member States, including through the HRC.

38. In the area of social development, we place special emphasis on poverty eradication, promotion of social integration and full employment and decent work for all, as well as on the implementation of social rights of citizens with a special focus on the problems of vulnerable social groups. Intensive efforts to these ends will not only facilitate the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995) and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, and further documents on the implementation of the Copenhagen MDGs-related tasks, but also will help to define the social dimension in the global development agenda beyond 2015 more clearly. The Commission for Social Development remains the main coordinating body in the UN system and an effective tool for the international cooperation to develop concerted actions to deal with ageing, promote the rights of persons with disabilities, improve the situation of youth, and strengthen the role of family.

The High-Level Meeting of the 68^th Session of the UN General Assembly on disability and development to be held on September 23, 2013, will be a timely event, and we intend to take an active part in it.

39. When it comes to ensuring gender equality and advancement of women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the decisions of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly provide meaningful guidance to States. With regard to the 20^th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 2015, the focus should be on the events that have been already scheduled first of all within the framework of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. We appreciate the activities of the UN Women structure and intend to work intensively as a member of its Executive Council.

40. We stand for strengthening of the international cooperation to protect the rights of children, and for advancing the ideals of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the principles of which are shared by the overwhelming majority of the UN Member States. The outcome document of the 27^th Special Session "A World Fit for Children" serves as practical guide for action in this area.

We strictly comply with and expand our international legal obligations concerning the protection of the rights of children. On May 7, 2013 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir V. Putin signed the Federal Law on the Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

41. We consider the cooperation in sports as an effective tool to improve the mutual understanding among nations. The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will provide a powerful impetus to the development of the Olympic movement. Our country, as a host of the Olympics, will submit a draft of the GA traditional resolution "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" (Olympic Truce). We are committed to staging the 2018 Football World Cup at a high level.

42. We are ready for constructive interaction with all partners in ensuring success of the UNGA High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a view to launching the intergovernmental consultations on the elaboration of the global development agenda beyond 2015.

43. We will continue contributing to the GA efforts aimed at negotiating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their financing strategies within the frameworks of relevant mechanisms. We view the SDGs as a key element of the global development agenda beyond 2015. We stand for the development of a limited set of specific, interlinked and measurable goals, targets and indicators.

44. We intend to actively participate in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. We will support balanced initiatives aimed atstrengthening the ECOSOC, in particular its coordination functions, in order to enhance the dialogue and intensify collaboration between all key partners in the field of international social and economic cooperation, including the UN agencies, the Bretton Woods Institutions and the WTO.

45. In the framework of the Outreach Strategy of the Russian G20 Presidency, we intend to continue extensive consultations, including during the UNGA 68^th session, with non-G20 countries to ensure coherence between the G20 activities and the UN agreed priorities of the global social and economic agenda. In our opinion, constructive cooperation with the UN is an important contributory factor to enhanced efficiency and legitimacy of the G2O decisions.

46. We are prepared to contribute to designing a post-Kyoto international climate cooperation regime. The ultimate objective set by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), i.e. to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, can only be achieved through participation of all countries with due regard to their actual capabilities and depending on their environmental impact. We approach the problem of combating climate change in a broader context of efforts aimed at developing a low-carbon and environment-oriented ("green") economy. We attach paramount importance to the coordinated work of specialized international institutions (the FCCC, the UN General Assembly, the ECOSOC, the UNEP, and the UN regional economic commissions).

47. The healthcare theme, including non-communicable disease and HIV/AIDS control, represents a priority for us. We will further strengthen cooperation in the field of road safety within the UN Decade of Action (2011 –2020). We intend to submit to the General Assembly a new draft resolution on this issue.

48. We are looking forward to a constructive and non-politicized dialogue with all the interested partners in preparation for the General Assembly Special Session in 2014 in order to review progress in the implementation of the Program of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), proceeding from the sovereign right of States to comply with the ICPD recommendations in accordance with national laws and development priorities while fully respecting religious values and cultural peculiarities.

49. We believe that one of the most important focus areas is the further enhancement of international humanitarian cooperation on the basis of fundamental principles of humanitarian assistance set forth by the UN General Assembly resolution 46/182 – the consent of the affected country, the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, the unimpeded access to populations in need, the strict observance of the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence.

50. Noting the UN role in establishing a constructive dialogue between interested States in order to regulate migration flows, minimize negative impact of migration and maximize its benefits, we attach great importance to the General Assembly High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, which should significantly contribute to multilateral efforts aimed at making migration processes more manageable for the benefit of sustainable development.

We commend the activities of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) in addressing humanitarian crises in different countries and regions of the world, including Syria. We maintain a high level of cooperation with the UNCHR. Russia contributes USD 2 mln. annually to its budget, and allocates additional amounts for its operations. The Government of the Russian Federation decided to allocate an earmarked contribution to the Office's budget amounting to USD 10 mln. to assist the governments of Syria and Jordan to resolve the problems of Syrian refugees.

51. We consider it necessary, during discussions on the UN regular budget for 2014–2015, to seek thorough justification of the requested resources from the UN Secretariat taking into account the provisions on budgetary discipline and prioritized implementation of agreed mandates.

52. We note with concern the increase of UN management reform initiatives (HR policy, procurement, strengthening of the civilian capacity, UN research and training activities etc.) that require further development and greater co-ordination. We are actively engaged in discussions on various aspects of the reform, the main purpose of which, as we see it, is to make the Organization more efficient. We consider that the final decisions on the reform initiatives should be taken by the UN intergovernmental bodies. It is essential that the proposed initiatives do not become goals in themselves, but promote transparency of and accountability for the decisions taken by Member States, as well as provide a real increase in outputs for the United Nations.

53. When considering the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations in connection with large amounts of requested funding, we believe it appropriate to seek reasonable cost savings, especially by missions, whose mandates do not change radically.

54. We consider the multilingualism based on parity of all UN official languages to be a fundamental principle of its outreach work. We stand for a reasonable balance in the use of traditional and innovative communication technologies in order to cover the widest possible audience.