Russian Support for IMF Loan to Yemen

We, the Russian Federation, have given our support to the proposed resolution regarding the IMF loan to Yemen. As permanent members of the UN Security Councils, as well as the drafters of the resolution, we believe that the loan is vital to improving the security of Yemen. Yemen has long been a breeding ground for international terrorism, most importantly Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. AQAP, the organization responsible for May 10th’s attack on the Incirlick air base has been accountable for numerous attacks of terrorism around the world and it is Russian policy to support any initiative aimed at harming or destroying this organization. The IMF loan, which has been appropriated with the intent of improving Yemeni national security, is an imperative step to eradicating the fundamentalist terrorist threat. Muslim fundamentalism has been an incredibly destructive force in Russia, and within the borders of our fellow UN nations. However, it is an important condition that loan funds go only to combating terrorism, and Russia will supply members for the UN audit committee. This committee will be responsible for ensuring that funds are not misappropriated. In addition, Russia will be making military trainers available to Yemen, and will open an arms trade with the Yemeni government to ensure that Yemeni police are well trained, and well equipped. In closing, Russia supports this UN resolution as an important step in the struggle to eliminate Islamic terrorism.

Resolution Regarding Yemen

Sponsors: Permanent Members of the UN Security Council

To: All Members of the Security Council,

Regarding the recent attacks on the Incirlik Air Base on May 10^th, 2010 by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,

Stressing- The importance of improving security in the Republic of Yemen in order to promote stability in the region and prevent further terrorist attacks.

Proposing- A Yemeni Counterterrorism Initiative.  Including a UN sponsored 677,340,000 SDR (10 billion USD) loan by the International Monetary Fund to Yemen under the following terms and conditions;

·      The loan will be repaid to the IMF with an annual interest rate of 1%

·      The funds are appropriated solely for the purpose of improving Yemeni national security and eradicating terrorism organizations within Yemeni borders.

Appointing- An oversight committee comprised of UN personnel for the purpose of overseeing the general distribution of UN/IMF funds. This committee will be subject to the following:

·      It will perform an annual audit to ensure that the Yemeni government is using the funds solely for the purpose of counterterrorism

·      It will be comprised of representatives from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Requiring- that the IMF loan will be used for the following purposes:

·      To train and arm the Yemeni national police force to combat Al-Qaeda forces in Yemen.  All permanent members will supply training personnel and make available military equipment to assist this effort

·      To create a dedicated military unit with the explicit purpose of engaging in the interdiction of terrorist organizations

·      To collaborate and assist the United Nations and the permanent members of the Security Council in the collection and dissemination of all intelligence related to international terrorism

·      To arrest, and if applicable, lawfully extradite all terrorists within Yemeni borders

·      To actively cooperate with all UN committees tasked with overseeing and implementing this initiative

Proposing-That all current sanctions imposed by any UN members on Yemen remain suspended indefinitely.  However, the Security Council and its individual members retain the right to reinstitute sanctions for failure to comply with the terms of this initiative.  In addition, should any misappropriation of funds occur, the loan will be terminated

Reiterating-the urgency of improving the police and military capability of the Yemeni government in order to prevent the spread of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations

Calling- for all UN Security Council members to approve this resolution.

Reaction to the White Papers

Although, important headway was made during Friday’s emergency Security Council meeting, continued discussions will be necessary in order achieve a suitable resolution for the current crisis. 

First, we would like to address statements made on combating terrorism in Yemen and throughout the Middle East.  US President Barack Obama has suggested the creation of a United Nations International Terrorist Asset Information Network (UNITAIN), dedicated to the eradication of the fundamentalist threat by facilitating cooperation and communication between UN nations. Russia pledges support for this organization and will work with all nations to eliminate international terrorism.

As we have stated, we believe that NATO is an outmoded organization with an anti-Russian history. It is Russian policy to pursue the elimination of NATO, and the creation of a new, more inclusive alliance. NATO expansion into Turkey was a prominent factor in last Monday’s attack, and we believe that further expansion of NATO into the Middle East will only provoke further attacks. We believe that a United Nations sponsored body, which includes not only western nations but also Middle Eastern states, and provides economic aid, military support, and a global intelligence network to all its members, is the appropriate way to combat terrorism.  In the 21^st century, a purely military organization like NATO is not beneficial to promoting peace and stability. 

Russia supports the facilitation of stability in the state of Yemen, which has been a base of operations for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.  AQAP, the organization behind Monday’s attack, has been a dominating force in Yemen, and will continue to be so without economic assistance supervised by the UN, to ensure that it is used appropriately by the Yemeni government.  However, we condemn recent German sanctions on Yemen and their threats of unilateral military force.  Neither of these methods will prove effective, and we must all work within the framework of the UN. We commend Saudi Arabia, for its initiative to combat terrorism within Yemen.

Russia has long maintained the most important component in the fight to overcome terrorism is direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine that results in a lasting peace.

During recent UN discussions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Russia for the supposedly poor security control over our nuclear stockpiles.  We reiterate that we maintain extreme security over all fissile materials and nuclear warheads, and that we are in compliance with numerous arms agreements including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the US-Russian New START treaty, and the Nunn-Lugar initiative.  

During Friday’s meeting, Russia was shocked and disappointed to hear Israel confirm that it possesses nuclear armaments.  In light of this new information, it is imperative that Israel becomes a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty.  The NPT is vital for sustained peace, and it is Russian policy to actively pursue creation of a nuclear free zone in the Middle East.  Also we implore Pakistan to become a signatory to the agreement, and for Iran to honor its commitment to the NPT, and to maintain only a civilian nuclear program. 

In closing, Russia is continuing multilateral negotiations in hopes that next Thursday’s resolution can makes strides toward solving the current crisis, and the worldwide threat of global terrorism.

White Paper

White Paper on the Incirlik Air Base Attack by the Russian Federation

President Dmitry Medvedev

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Executive Summary:  In the wake of this Monday’s attack on the Turkish Incirlik air base, the Russian federation has decided to evaluate and expand upon its existing positions regarding Turkey and the Middle East.  We continue to condemn Muslim fundamentalist terrorism, both within our own borders and abroad.  Russia reaffirms its commitment to securing its nuclear stockpile and its cooperation in this regard with the United States.  In addition, we are dedicated to improving Russian-Turkish political economic relations, and Russia supports Turkey’s role as potential mediator of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Russia renews its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a means of stopping terrorism.  Russia advocates the removal of NATO soldiers and weapons from the Middle East.  We support the recent US-Syria accord, and we reiterate the importance of direct diplomatic negotiations between Israel and all Palestinian parties. 

Key Points

·      Safeguarding Nuclear Stockpile

o   Russia disputes allegations that our nuclear stockpiles are not well protected, and that loose fissile material could fall into the hands of Islamic Fundamentalist groups. It has long been the policy of the Russian government to provide the highest level of protection for our nuclear armaments. Since 1991, Russia has worked with the American Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Initiative to safeguard and dismantle its nuclear stockpile to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists. We also continue our pledge to the recent New START treaty to limit our weapon capacity, and to place increased protections on our current stockpile.

·      Muslim Fundamentalist Terrorism

o   Russia is committed to the global conflict against terrorism.  We continue to condemn terrorism in any form.  We denounce Al-Qaeda and the continuing destruction they cause in the Middle East and throughout the world.  We actively fight fundamentalist terrorists within our own borders, and support all governments in the effort to eradicate this scourge. In the wake of the Turkish attack, we continue to stress the importance of ameliorating the political and economic conditions of the citizens in the Middle East in order to fight the growth of terrorism and prevent further attacks.

·      Russian-Turkish Alliance

o   It is the policy of the Russian government to improve Russian-Turkish relations both politically and economically.  We are developing a strategic partnership with Turkey to expand trade and political relations. It is our intention to maintain our plans for the construction of two oil-pipelines, and a civilian nuclear reactor.  We believe Turkey is vital to brokering peaceful negotiations throughout the Middle East. The formation of a partnership between our two nations will help foster peace and will be beneficial to the region as a whole. 

·      NATO Expansion

o   Russia does not condone NATO expansion in Turkey, or the placement of nuclear weapons on Turkish soil.  NATO is a relic of the Cold War period and NATO’s presence in Turkey serves only to stoke the flames of radical Muslim groups, such as Al-Qaeda.  It is our policy to work towards the disbandment of this organization, and to enter into agreements with the West to promote peaceful coexistence.  Presently, Russian policy is to urge NATO members to remove troops and weapons from the Middle East.

·      Palestinian-Israeli/Syria-Israel Peace Talks

o   Russia supports direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine as vital for securing peace in the Middle East and preventing future terrorist attacks.  The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root of terrorism and fundamentalist ideology.  Russia believes direct negotiations must include all parties, Israel, the PLO in West Bank, and Hamas in Gaza.  Russia supports Turkey in its important role of mediator in negotiations between both Palestine and Israel and Syria and Israel. Their position as an impartial Middle Eastern Muslim state makes them an ideal broker between Israel and other Muslim nations.  Russia supports the recent US-Syria accord to cease funding for terrorism, and hopes that it promotes peace in the region.  We continue our membership and our support for the Quartet on the Middle East, and along with our partners the United States, the UN, and the EU, we will help to facilitate the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian people.

·      Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

o   As signatories to the NPT Russia is committed to non-proliferation and the promotion of the peaceful use of civilian nuclear power.  We will take every step to promote the treaty and to prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.  It is the duty of all NPT members to prevent Al-Qaeda from attaining nuclear arms. 

Reactionary Statement

I would like to issue a statement regarding today’s UN Security Council meeting.  Allow me to amplify our position regarding the recent events in Turkey, and react to the positions of our fellow Security Council members. First, I want to reiterate our sympathy towards the Turkish people and reaffirm our strengthening political and economic ties with Turkey. In the wake of the attacks on the Incirlik base, which housed US nuclear weapons, allegations have arisen that Russia’s own nuclear armaments are insufficiently protected from outside threats.  We reiterate that such “loose fissile materials” are non-existent, and we maintain safe and reliable defenses.  According to the terms of multiple arms limitation treaties, including the NEWSTART treaty, which President Obama and I recently signed, we have limited our nuclear stockpile, and increased protection on existing weapons. As victims of terrorist attacks at the hands of Chechen Islamic extremists, Russia knows that it is imperative for the community of nations to eradicate this global threat. We strongly support the position of Chinese President Hu Jintao who has stressed the insidious and spreading nature of fundamentalist Islam terrorism, and the importance of confronting it.  Radical Islam has used deadly force the world over, in Moscow, Ankara, New York, and Western China.  We implore all permanent members of the Security Council to continue to encourage all signatories to honor the commitments made under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  It is the duty of all nations, whether they possess nuclear weapons or not, to join this pact which will encourage a nuclear free zone in the Middle East.  Today, UN members unanimously reaffirmed their support of the Treaty to prevent nuclear proliferation to terrorists, so that the next attack doesn’t dwarf the ruinous attacks perpetrated on the Incirlik base. Despite this horrendous tragedy, the search for peace in the Middle East must continue, and multilateral action must be taken against the Islamic fundamentalist plague.

1st Statement

Before we begin, I would like to pay my respects to the families of the soldiers who were killed in the devastating attack on the Incirlik military base yesterday morning.  The Russian Government strongly condemns this terrorist attack perpetrated against the Turkish people.  We Russians have been victims of Muslim fundamentalist Terrorism, and we still mourn the death of our children at Beslan, and more recently in Moscow.  It is our goal to eliminate this scourge from all corners of the globe.  For the past few days, I have been in Turkey, meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, and I want to reaffirm our commitment to expanding our economic and political relationship with Turkey.  We will continue our mutual plans for the construction of two new oil-pipelines, and for a new civilian nuclear reactor on Turkish soil.  I have also reaffirmed to Prime Minister Erdogan that Russia will continue to pursue a multidimensional strategic political partnership with Turkey.  At the Prime Minister’s request, I’ve agreed to mediate negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh area to further peace in that region.  We would like to turn attention as well to the NPT, which was the original reason for the current UN meetings.  We continue to support the treaty, and stress its importance to preserving peace while allowing proper civilian nuclear development.  With mutual cooperation from all signatories, we can ensure that the next attack isn’t a nuclear one, and we can prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.  We have long condemned NATO expansion in Turkey, as we believe it is detrimental to our legitimate security interests.  In addition, it stokes the flames of fundamentalism, and further impedes negotiations between Israel and Palestine.  We would not have wanted the suspension of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and we continue to encourage the resumption of direct negotiations in hopes that a viable two state solution can be reached.  I ask the other countries to join me in eliminating the Fundamentalist threat of terrorism, and I will now open the floor to questions.

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