Amazing, for fun you could take Putin's name off of that speech and circulate
it to a bunch of conservatives giving Trump credit instead and they'll tell you
it was the best speech in the history of the human race.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2020 1:36 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Vladimir Putin delivered a pre-recorded video
address to the 75th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Read this and tell me if he sounds like an enemy of the US. Actually, we'd be
grateful if we had a President who could make such a sane speech.
Miriam
75th session of the UN General Assembly
Vladimir Putin delivered a pre-recorded video address to the 75th anniversary
session of the United Nations General Assembly.
September 22, 202019:15
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General,
colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
This year, the international community celebrates two, without exaggeration,
historic anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War
and establishment of the United Nations.
The importance of these two forever interlinked events cannot be
overemphasized. In 1945, Nazism was defeated, the ideology of aggression and
hatred was crushed, and the experience and spirit of alliance, as well as the
awareness of the huge price that had been paid for peace and our common
Victory, helped construct the post-war world order. It was built on the
ultimate foundation of the UN Charter that remains the main source of
international law to this day.
I am convinced that this anniversary makes it incumbent upon all of us to
recall the timeless principles of inter-State communication enshrined in the UN
Charter and formulated by the founding fathers of our universal Organization in
the clearest and most unambiguous terms. These principles include the equality
of sovereign States, non-interference with their domestic affairs, the right of
peoples to determine their own future, non-use of force or the threat of force,
and political settlement of disputes.
Looking back at the past decades, one can say that despite all difficulties of
the Cold War period, major geopolitical shifts and all the intricacies of
today's global politics, the UN has been ably fulfilling its mission of
protecting peace, promoting sustainable development of the peoples and
continents and providing assistance in mitigating local crises.
This enormous potential and expertise of the UN is relevant and serves as a
solid basis for moving ahead. After all, just like any other international
organization or regional entity, the UN should not grow stiff, but evolve in
accordance with the dynamics of the 21st century and consistently adapt to the
realia of the modern world that is indeed becoming more complicated, multipolar
and multidimensional.
The current changes certainly have an effect on the principal UN body, the
Security Council, as well as on the debate concerning the approaches to its
reform. Our logic is that the Security Council should be more inclusive of the
interests of all countries, as well as the diversity of their positions, base
its work on the principle of the broadest possible consensus among States and,
at the same time, continue to serve as the cornerstone of global governance,
which cannot be achieved unless the permanent members of the Security Council
retain their veto power.
Such a right pertaining to the five nuclear powers, the victors of the Second
World War, remains indicative of the actual military and political balance to
this day. Most importantly, it is an essential and unique instrument that helps
prevent unilateral actions that may result in a direct military confrontation
between major States, and provides an opportunity to seek compromise or at
least avoid solutions that would be completely unacceptable to others and act
within the framework of international law, rather than a vague, gray area of
arbitrariness and illegitimacy.
As diplomatic practice shows, this instrument actually works, unlike the
infamous pre-war League of Nations with its endless discussions, declarations
without mechanisms for real action and with States and peoples in need not
having the right to assistance and protection.
Forgetting the lessons of history is short-sighted and extremely irresponsible,
just like the politicized attempts to arbitrarily interpret the causes, course
and outcomes of the Second World War and twist the decisions of the conferences
of the Allies and the Nuremberg Tribunal that are based on speculation instead
of facts.
It is not just vile and offending the memory of the fighters against Nazism.
It is a direct and devastating blow to the very foundation of the post-war
world order, which is particularly dangerous in view of the global stability
facing serious challenges, the arms control system breaking down, regional
conflicts continuing unabated, and threats posed by terrorism, organized crime
and drug trafficking intensifying.
We are also experiencing a whole new challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.
This disease has directly affected millions of people and claimed the most
important thing: the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Quarantines,
border closures, numerous serious troubles to citizens of almost all States
constitute the present-day realia. It has been especially difficult for elderly
people who, due to the necessary restrictions, have not been able to hug their
loved ones, children and grandchildren for weeks or even months.
Experts are yet to fully assess the scale of the social and economic shock
caused by the pandemic and all its long-term consequences. However, it is
already evident that it will take a really, really long time to restore the
global economy. Furthermore, even the proven anti-crisis measures will not
always work. We will need new innovative solutions.
The only way to elaborate such solutions is to work together, which is the most
important task for both the UN and G20 States, as well as other leading
inter-State organizations and integration associations that are also going
through tough times due to the pandemic impact and need fundamentally new
horizons and scope of development.
This very idea of a qualitative integrative growth, the "integration of
integrations", is the one behind Russia's initiative to form a Greater Eurasian
Partnership involving all Asian and European countries without exception. It is
purely pragmatic and increasingly relevant.
Besides, I would like to draw attention once again to Russia's proposal to
create so-called "green corridors" free from trade wars and sanctions,
primarily for essential goods, food, medicine and personal protective equipment
needed to fight the pandemic.
In general, freeing the world trade from barriers, bans, restrictions and
illegitimate sanctions would be of great help in revitalizing global growth and
reducing unemployment. According to experts, total or partial reduction in
global employment in the second quarter of this year equals to the loss of 400
million jobs, and we have to do our utmost to prevent this unemployment from
growing long-term and ensure that people return to work and can support their
families instead of finding themselves imprisoned by poverty with no prospects
in life.
This is indeed a most acute global social problem, so the politics has a
mission now to pave the way for trade, joint projects and fair competition,
rather than tie the hands of business and discourage business initiative.
The pandemic has also pinpointed a series of ethical, technological and
humanitarian matters. For instance, advanced digital technologies helped
quickly reorganize education, trade and services, as well as set up distant
learning and online courses for people of different ages. Artificial
intelligence has assisted doctors in making more accurate and timely diagnoses
and finding the best treatment.
However, just like any other innovation, digital technologies tend to spread
uncontrollably and, just like conventional weapons, can fall into the hands of
various radicals and extremists not only in the regional conflict zones, but
also in quite prosperous countries, thus engendering enormous risks.
In this regard, matters related to cybersecurity and the use of advanced
digital technology also deserve a most serious deliberation within the UN.
It is important to hear and appreciate the concerns of people over the
protection of their rights, such as the right to privacy, property and
security, in the new era.
We must learn to use new technologies for the benefit of humankind, seek for a
right balance between encouraging the development of artificial intelligence
and justifiable restrictions to limit it, and work together towards a consensus
in the field of regulation that would avert potential threats in terms of both
military and technological security, as well as traditions, law, and morals of
human communication.
I would like to point out that during the pandemic, doctors, volunteers and
citizens of various countries have been showing us examples of mutual
assistance and support, and such solidarity defies borders. Many countries have
also been helping each other selflessly and open-heartedly. However, there have
been cases showing the deficit of humanity and, if you will, kindness in the
relations at the official inter-State level.
We believe that the UN prestige could strengthen and enhance the role of the
humanitarian or human component in multilateral and bilateral relations, namely
in people-to-people and youth exchanges, cultural ties, social and educational
programs, as well as cooperation in sports, science, technology, environment
and health protection.
As to healthcare, just like in economy, we now need to remove, as many as
possible, obstacles to partner relations. Our country has been actively
contributing to global and regional counter-COVID-19 efforts, providing
assistance to most affected states both bilaterally and within multilateral
formats.
In doing so, we first of all take into account the central coordinating role of
the World Health Organization, which is part of the UN system. We believe it
essential to qualitatively strengthen the WHO capability. This work has already
begun, and Russia is genuinely motivated to engage in it.
Building on the scientific, industrial and clinical experience of its doctors
Russia has promptly developed a range of test systems and medicines to detect
and treat the coronavirus, as well as registered the world's first vaccine,
"Sputnik-V."
I would like to reiterate that we are completely open to partner relations and
willing to cooperate. In this context, we are proposing to hold an online
high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the
development of anti-coronavirus vaccines.
We are ready to share experience and continue cooperating with all States and
international entities, including in supplying the Russian vaccine which has
proved reliable, safe, and effective, to other countries. Russia is sure that
all capacities of the global pharmaceutical industry need to be employed so as
to provide a free access to vaccination for the population of all states in the
foreseeable future.
A dangerous virus can affect anyone. The coronavirus has struck the staff of
the United Nations, its headquarters and regional structures just like everyone
else. Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified
assistance; in particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of
charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices.
We have received requests from our UN colleagues in this respect, and we will
respond to those.
There are other critical items on today's agenda. The issues of both
environmental protection and climate change should remain the focus of joint
efforts.
The specialized multilateral UN conventions, treaties and protocols have proved
fully relevant. We are calling on all states to comply with them in good faith,
particularly in working to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Dear colleagues! I would like to underline again, that Russia will make every
effort to contribute to peaceful political and diplomatic resolution of
regional crises and conflicts, as well as to ensuring strategic stability.
For all the disputes and differences, at times misunderstanding and even
distrust on the part of some colleagues, we will consistently advance
constructive, uniting initiatives, first of all in arms control and
strengthening the treaty regimes existing in this area. This includes the
prohibition of chemical, biological and toxin weapons.
The issue of primary importance that should and must be promptly dealt with is,
of course, the extension of the Russia-US Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty,
which will expire shortly, i.e. in February 2021. We are engaged in
negotiations with our US partners on the matter.
We also expect that mutual restraint would be exercised with regard to
deploying new missile systems. I would like to add that as early as last year,
Russia declared a moratorium on deploying ground-launched medium and
short-range missiles in Europe and other regions as long as the United States
of America refrains from such actions. Unfortunately, we have not received any
reaction to our proposal from either our US partners or their allies.
I believe that such reciprocal steps on specific issues would provide a sound
basis for launching a serious, profound dialogue on the entire range of factors
affecting strategic stability. It would aim at achieving comprehensive
arrangements, shaping a solid foundation for the international security
architecture that would build on prior experience in this field and in line
with both the existing and future politico-military and technological realia.
In particular, Russia is putting forward an initiative to sign a binding
agreement between all the leading space powers that would provide for the
prohibition of the placement of weapons in outer space, threat or use of force
against outer space objects.
We are well aware of the fact that security issues as well as other problems
discussed by this jubilee UN General Assembly call for consolidated efforts on
the basis of values that unite us, our shared memory of the lessons of history,
and the spirit of alliance which guided the anti-Hitler coalition participants
who found it possible to raise above differences and ideological preferences
for the sake of Victory and peace for all nations on the Earth.
In the current challenging environment, it is important for all countries to
show political will, wisdom and foresight. The permanent members of the UN
Security Council - those powers that, for 75 years now, have been bearing
particular responsibility for international peace and security, the
preservation of the foundations of international law - should take the lead
here.
Fully realizing this responsibility, Russia has suggested convening a G5
summit. It would aim at reaffirming the key principles of behavior in
international affairs, elaborating ways to effectively address today's most
burning issues. It is encouraging that our partners have supported the
initiative. We expect to hold such summit - in person - as soon as
epidemiological situation makes it possible.
I would like to reiterate that in an interrelated, interdependent world, amid
the whirlpool of international developments, we need to work together drawing
on the principles and norms of international law enshrined in the UN Charter.
This is the only way for us to carry out the paramount mission of our
Organization and provide a decent life for the present and future generations.
I wish all the peoples of our planet peace and well-being.
Thank you.
