Remarks to the press by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy following UNSC vote on a draft resolution on non-placement of WMDs in outer space
Dmitry Polyanskiy: We did not prepare a special's stakeout, but, frankly, this was one of the most ridiculous votes in my career here, and I think maybe in the history of the United Nations, because it was absolutely clear, even from the words of Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, that there is absolutely no added value in this draft resolution. There are obligations under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. There are commitments by President V.Putin that she mentioned herself. And she couldn't explain why they put forward this draft. This is ridiculous. We're speaking about stopping arms race in outer space. We are in favor of this, and our amendment was specifically for that. The United States says, “No, we don't want this. We want to single out only one type of weapons on which you already have the obligations under the Outer Space Treaty”. Isn't this absurd? The only reason for the United States and Japan to present this resolution was to tarnish Russia. This is absolutely clear. This is the way the veto power is being abused by one of UNSC permanent members, and this is, of course, shameful for the United States.
By the way, I want to point out to you that after this meeting, after this vote, there is a meeting on Gaza, and all the Ambassadors (including Ambassador Nebenzia, which is why I'm here) are there in the hall except the [Ambassador of the] United States. So make no mistake about priorities.
Q: So what is the part exactly that you disagree with in the text you just saw?
A: We tried to explain that if you want to build a house, it's necessary to build the walls, and then you speak about the roof. The United States and Japan wanted us to agree on the roof, but not about the walls, and there is no house. We want a comprehensive agreement on banning nuclear arms race in outer space and placement of any weapons, any systems in outer space. Our amendment didn't delete a word from the draft resolution [put forward] by Japan and the United States. Not a single word. We added a comprehensive ban on the arms race, but that's what they don't want.
Q: And are you concerned about an arms race in space?
A: Of course, because they are doing it. They proceed with militarization of space. But there are other expert fora where these issues are tackled. Is it that we need to confirm any statement of President Biden with a resolution of the Security Council? This is ridiculous.
Q: Have you elaborated about the alternative draft proposal that Russia considers introducing?
A: Yes, we will do it in the coming days. And this draft, of course, will be comprehensive. It will be aimed at a genuine banning of arms race in outer space, with real contents, rather than the procedural maneuvers that the United States is now being engaged in. And of course, it would be a very good test for our American colleagues to prove that they are really concerned about stopping arms race in outer space and not about tarnishing Russia.
Thank you very much.
