Russian Embassy in Lebanon  

Excerpts from the Joint Statement by Representatives of Iran, Russia and Türkiye on Outcomes of the 22nd International Meeting on Syria in the Astana Format,

Astana, 11-12 November 2024

The representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran🇮🇷, the Russian Federation🇷🇺 and the Republic of Türkiye🇹🇷 as guarantor countries of the Astana Format:

1. Examined the latest international and regional developments and emphasized the leading role of the Astana Process in promoting the lasting settlement of the Syrian crisis.

2. Expressed their strong condemnation and deep concern over the continued mass killing and criminal attacks by Israel in Gaza as well as Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the West Bank. Called on the international community, in particular the UN Security Council (UNSC) to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access in Gaza.
Called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, underlined the importance of implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1701(2006) and reiterated the need for immediate humanitarian aid to Lebanon which suffered from mass civilian casualties and major civilian infrastructure destruction. Expressed grave concern on the deliberate attacks against UNIFIL by Israeli armed forces. Underlined the efforts of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to receive in the Syrian territory hundreds of thousands of forced migrants from Lebanon. Agreed to continue consultations on preventing negative spillover effects of these Israeli actions in the wider region.

3. Acknowledged the negative impact of the escalation of violence in the Middle East on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. Underscored the urgency for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN agencies and all humanitarian actors to develop an emergency response for those who were forced to cross from Lebanon into the Syrian territory following the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon.

⚡️ Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation

❗️ According to a report published by the press bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, the US Department of State is actively exploring options for altering the current leadership of Ukraine if deemed necessary.

One proposed “legitimate” method for addressing the perceived “excesses” of Mr Zelensky involves organising presidential and parliamentary elections next year, despite the ongoing conflict with Russia.

In this context, the US Department of State has resolved to undertake a preliminary review of the conditions necessary for initiating an electoral campaign in Ukraine.

Initially, it is intended to mobilise Ukrainian civil society organisations under American influence to propose this initiative through US “democratisation” foundations and think tanks, aiming to secure “broad public support.” Candidate nominations will be coordinated with the Department of State, while American NGOs will be tasked with selecting local civil society organisations to oversee the elections.

As encouraged by the United States, discussions have commenced among Western-funded Ukrainian “civic activists” regarding the establishment of a new political party intended to fill a pro-American role in the forthcoming elections. According to the Department of State's strategy, this political entity is expected to gain seats in the Verkhovna Rada and serve as a crucial component of the checks and balances system for any Ukrainian leader.

☝️ This activity by the Americans clearly illustrates that the oft-repeated US mantra “not a single word about Ukraine without Ukraine” is merely a facade. In reality, decisions regarding the fate of Ukraine and its leadership will continue to be made in the high offices of Washington.

🇺🇳 The Third Committee of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted the Russian-initiated draft resolution “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, co-authored by 40 UN member-states.

✅ 116 countries voted in favour
❌ 54 against
➖ 11 abstained.

The list of those nations who voted against condemning racism and in favour of glorification of Nazism:

United States, Canada, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Australia, Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Japan, Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fiji, Georgia, Hungary, New Zealand, Iceland, Ireland, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, Monaco, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Republic of Korea, Palau, Tonga.

⚡️ Joint Statement of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum (Sirius Federal Territory, Russian Federation, November 10, 2024)

✍️ We, the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and African States recognised by the United Nations (UN), Leadership of the African Union Commission and of executive bodies of the leading African integration organisations, as well as their representatives, gathered on 10 November 2024 in the Russian Federation, Sirius Federal Territory, to participate in the First Ministerial Conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum.

We are pleased to note the strategic level of Russia-Africa cooperation, and positively assess the pace of the implementation of the agreements reached during the first (Sochi, 23-24 October 2019) and second (Saint Petersburg, 27-28 July 2023) Russia-Africa Summits and articulated in the final documents thereof, including the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan 2023-2026.

We reconfirm our intention to continue strategic-level engagement in order to achieve a world order that would ensure international peace and security for all, equal opportunities for the development of all States, preservation of their cultural and civilizational uniqueness regardless of differences in political, economic and social structures, geographical location, demographic, resource and military potentials.

We welcome the adoption by heads of delegations participating in the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership of joint statements on:

• measures to create a fair, transparent and equitable system of International Information Security;
• strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism;
• current issues of exploration and use of Outer Space for peaceful purposes.

We reconfirm the shared responsibility of the Russian Federation and African States for supporting the creation of a just and stable world order based on the principles of sovereign equality of States, non-interference in their internal affairs, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of all peoples to self-determination as provided for, inter alia, by UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as the need to preserve national identity and national resources, cultural and civilizational diversity and to protect traditional values.

👉 Political Cooperation

We consider the development of constructive partnership with the African Union and the leading African integration organisations as a foreign policy priority of the Russian Federation and African States.

👉 Security Cooperation

We confirm the importance of the principle of "African Solutions to African Problems" in conflict resolution.

👉 Trade and Economic Cooperation

We express our readiness to continue joint efforts to strengthen the voice and representation of the African continent in the global economic governance architecture.

👉 Education, Health, Culture, Sports, Youth Policy and Media Cooperation

We welcome the dynamic cooperation between the Russian Federation and African States in the field of culture.

👉 Environmental and Climate Cooperation

We advocate for stepping up efforts to consolidate approaches to international environmental and climate issues within the specialised UN fora to prevent the politicisation of work in these areas.

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The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and African States recognised by the United Nations, Leadership of the African Union Commission and the executive bodies of the leading African integration organisations, as well as their representatives, who participated in the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia‑Africa Partnership Forum express their commitment to further working together in order to expand cooperation and ensure the success of the third Russia-Africa Summit to be held in 2026.

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