On UNSCR 1540 & Russia's Latest Veto

Two reports out of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning deal with the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1540 and Maria Zakharova’s explanation of Russia’s use of its UNSC Veto of another attempt to advance the Outlaw US Empire’s Rules-based Order. The full title of the latter is “Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Russia's veto of the US-Japanese draft UN Security Council resolution on nuclear weapons and other types of WMD in outer space” and is a separate statement from Maria’s Weekly Briefing today:

The Russian Federation was forced to veto the U.S.-Japan draft resolution of the UN Security Council on nuclear weapons and other types of WMD in outer space for a number of reasons.

First of all, this was due to the fact that the fundamental amendments proposed by us were ignored. They included provisions on the need to take measures to keep outer space free of weapons of any kind (not just WMD), to ensure the guaranteed non-use of force or threat of force against space objects and their use in, from or in outer space, and on the importance of early development of an appropriate international legally binding instrument.

We also opposed the project in connection with the US attempt to create new international legal obligations in the field of space security through the UN Security Council, which go beyond the framework of existing treaties and agreements (primarily the 1967 Outer Space Treaty), bypassing the relevant disarmament platforms and without proper expert study.

The adoption of a resolution containing such provisions would create a negative precedent that undermines the activities not only of the UN Security Council, but also of relevant forums, including the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Conference on Disarmament, and the UN Committee on Outer Space. Approval of the draft would give the United States virtually a free hand to legitimize any understanding of international security and strategic stability that meets American interests.

We proceed from the premise that the main task in ensuring space security remains the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the creation of conditions for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The attention of the international community should not be diverted from the real threats in space posed by the United States with the support of its satellites.

We reaffirm the strict commitment of the Russian Federation to its international legal obligations in the field of space law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. We emphasise our continued readiness to promptly agree on and conclude a comprehensive international legally binding agreement on PAROS [Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space].

In the near future, we will submit our own draft UN Security Council resolution, which will take into account the results of the discussion of the US-Japanese document, as well as the existing developments on this issue, which have been approved by the overwhelming majority of UN member states. We hope that it will be adopted by the UN Security Council. [My Emphasis]

IMO, the Veto was well done and properly explained. The emphasized portions most would agree upon. I’ve linked to the English version of the 1967 Treaty above for those curious.

UNSCR 1540 is tangentially related to the above Veto. The following is essentially a media memo from the MFA:

April 28 marks the 20th anniversary of the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 1540, which became the first comprehensive decision of this international body in the field of WMD non-proliferation. The Russian Federation was one of the originators of this resolution and acted as a co-sponsor of it.

The resolution filled the gaps that existed at that time in the global security architecture, becoming, in fact, the only universal legally binding document in the field of WMD non-proliferation, which covers all its types – nuclear, chemical and biological, as well as means of delivery and related materials.

Resolution 1540 provided an important impetus for States to take effective measures at the national level to prevent WMD, their means of delivery and WMD materials from falling into the hands of non-State actors, including terrorists. Its full implementation by all countries will make it possible to provide a truly global response to the challenge of proliferation that affects the entire world community.

The Russian Federation remains committed to the objectives of the resolution. Our country has adopted and continues to regularly improve the measures necessary for its effective implementation, and is ready to continue systematic and systematic work on the platform of the resolution in the spirit of cooperation and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.

Moscow hopes that in the current difficult international situation, UN Security Council Resolution 1540 will remain viable, and the international community will be able to make the most of its unifying potential in the interests of maintaining peace and security.

There are many current issues related to the NPT and planned/announced proliferation of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear nations along with the rumored account of the Zionists attempted use of a nuke against Iran which again brings forth the Zionist status as an Outlaw nuclear state possessing such weapons and a nuclear industry not under the supervision of the IAEA nor a member of the NPT. Recent arguments before the ICJ put forth the premise that the entity Occupying Palestine known as Israel isn’t an actual nation in a legal sense and would thus become a non-state actor possessing WMDs. It’s seldom noted that the illegal arming of the Zionists with nukes by the Outlaw US Empire was a gross illegal and immoral act that has also greatly complicated the ability to establish a Just Peace in the region, which we must admit was the plan then and now.

As mentioned, the MFA’s weekly briefing occurred today and is very long, just over 2.5 hours; so, what will appear here will be some selections. There’re also two important events featuring President Putin: a long update on the floods and his meeting today with Russia’s Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. All of which will make for a busy day.