Respect for national sovereignty - a pillar of international relations - Russia

Respect for the principle of non - interference in internal affairs of sovereign states as it is declared in international law is one of the pillars of Russian foreign policy, Russian Federation ambassador Vladimir P Mikhaylov said yesterday.

Issuing a statement in connection with the deliberations in the UN Human Rights Council of the resolution on Sri Lanka, the Russian embassy said: "The question of national sovereignty of a state has always been one of the most important in international relations. Respect for the principle of non - interference into internal affairs of sovereign states as it is declared in international law is one of the pillars of the Russian foreign policy.

"We have never supported attempts of other countries to violate or bypass this principle under various pretexts. Our Presidents and Ministers of Foreign Affairs throughout the history of modern Russia always stated that any such interference could be made only on the basis of the corresponding UN Security Council resolution.

"In cases of former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya and Syria, we always did and we are doing now all what we can to persuade our western partners to behave within the scope of international law and UN mechanisms. Every now and then, the latest example is Syrian case, we underline the necessity of international support to the countries with internal conflicts, but we are firm considering as inadmissable interference into internal affairs by one country or group of countries in case it is not justified by an appropriate UNSC resolution.

"We think that modern UN structure has all necessary mechanisms of conflict resolution and these mechanisms should be properly used by member states.

"The other question is that international community should not ignore problems in case they really exist and the reaction from the UN and its Security Council is needed including cases of mass violations of human rights. But member states should use this instrument carefully, having in mind that such measures are taken if and when international peace and security are in danger. In other cases we believe negotiation process is the best option.

"The UN system should be strong enough to resist attempts of particular states and group of states to use its mechanisms to serve their interests, covered by the desire to protect human rights. When human rights of a minority are protected through military operation against a sovereign state - is it something else but the violation of the majority's right of life?

"When thousands of people are killed in the name of human rights protection, it is not human rights protection - it is demagogy, as our elected President Vladimir Putin mentioned in one of his recent articles. Of course, human rights violations should be subjected to a thorough investigation and those responsible should be brought to justice through proper procedures. But the main responsibility to investigate such cases is on the government of the country itself and shouldn't be done through military intervention, which is inevitably accompanied by human rights violations.

"Russia strongly supported the Sri Lankan people and government in their struggle against the ruthless LTTE terrorist organisation. We think that the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka is very sensitive and it shouldn't be threatened by international interference.

"The success achieved by the President and the government of Sri Lanka in post-conflict reconstruction, resettlement of IDPs, demining and rehabilitation of former combatants are well known and widely recognised.

"We have no doubt that nobody is interested in durable reconciliation in Sri Lanka more than in its people and the government. So they should be given time and space for that. On their request we are ready to render any friendly assistance.

"As to the country specific resolutions in the UNHRC, including the one on the situation in Sri Lanka, we in principle cannot support the idea, that the Council should deal with particular 'country cases' in emergency and without any substantial grounds for this. We are against politicising human rights issues in particular countries, selective approach and double standards. The UNHRC has the mechanism of Universal Periodic Review, established by the UNGA resolution. Within this mechanism every state should submit a report every four years on its domestic human rights situation.

"Russia believes that only by joint efforts of all peace-loving and law-respecting countries a new, more fair international order based on the principles of the UN Charter can be constructed."