🎙 Statement by Konstantin Vorontsov, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation at the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons under Agenda Item 7 "General Exchange of Views" (Geneva, November 14, 2024)

💬 The Russian Federation reaffirms its commitment to the obligations under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and advocates the full implementation of all its provisions.

The CCW regime has shown in practice its real ability to respond to humanitarian threats, as well as its high adaptivity to changing conditions of warfare.

☝️ The strengthening of CCW and its five Protocols is directly dependent on its universalization. We urge the States that have not done it so far to also accede to the CCW as well as to its Protocols.

We emphasize the firm observance by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation of Amended Protocol II, which establishes an effective mechanism against the improper use of landmines, which are for many States a legitimate and necessary means of ensuring national security.

We confirm our reserved attitude to the possible resumption of independent expert work on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines (MOTAPM) within the CCW. Such mines are a legitimate means of defense and any attempts to qualify their use as “special humanitarian threat” have nothing to do with reality.

🤝 We confirm our willingness to further discuss the issue of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) within the optimal platform for that – CCW Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), basing on discussion mandate and the principle of consensus.

We welcome the adoption at the Sixth Review Conference of financial rules designed to ensure the long-term and sustainable functioning of the Convention.

The Russian Federation confirms its commitment to a constructive, results-oriented dialogue with all interested parties.

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👏 Congratulations to a Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Goriachkina for winning in Women's Rapid in Kolkata!

#Russia #Goriachkina #Chess #RapidChess

🌐 G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration

1. We, the Leaders of the G20, met in Rio de Janeiro on 18-19 November 2024 to address major global challenges and crises and promote strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth. We gather in the birthplace of the Sustainable Development Agenda to reaffirm our commitment to building a just world and a sustainable planet, while leaving no one behind <...>

4. We recognize that inequality within and among countries is at the root of most global challenges that we face and is aggravated by them.

8. While expressing our deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in Lebanon, we emphasize the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and to reinforce the protection of civilians and demand the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale. <...>

9. <...> We welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace [regarding Ukraine], upholding all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighborly relations among nations. <...>

11. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. <...>

15. The world produces more than enough food to eradicate hunger. Collectively, we do not lack knowledge nor resources to fight poverty and defeat hunger. What we need is political will to create the conditions to expand access to food. In light of this, we have launched the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and welcome its innovative approach to mobilizing finance and knowledge sharing to support the implementation of country-led, country-owned, large-scale and evidence-based programs aiming at reducing hunger and poverty worldwide. <...>

35. We emphasize the role of sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social, and environmental – as a guiding principle for cooperation for people, planet and prosperity, with the ultimate goal of overcoming our collective challenges. We reaffirm our respective commitments to scale up urgent action to address the crises and challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, ocean and land degradation, drought and pollution. <...>

62. The challenges the global community faces today can only be addressed through multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow and the strengthening of global governance for both present and future generations. <...>

64. We pledge to reform the Security Council through a transformative reform that aligns it with the realities and demands of the 21st century, makes it more representative, inclusive, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable, and more transparent to the whole of the UN membership, allowing for better responsibility sharing among all its members, while improving the effectiveness and transparency of its working methods. We call for an enlarged Security Council composition that improves the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. <...>

85. We remain resolute in our commitment to fighting hunger, poverty, and inequality, promoting sustainable development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions, and reforming global governance. We welcome Saudi Arabia’s ambition to advance its turn for hosting the G20 Presidency in the next cycle. We thank Brazil for its leadership this year and look forward to working together in 2025 under South Africa’s Presidency and meeting again in the United States in 2026.

📄 Full text of the Declaration

⚡️ Russia's Defence Ministry:

At 3.25 am on November 19 Ukrainian forces fired 6 US-produced ATACMS missiles at Russia's Bryansk region.

Five missiles were shot down by S-400 & Pantsir SAM systems, one was damaged, its fragments fell in the technical zone of a military facility, causing a fire

#Victory80

⭐️ Official Logo for the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War Unveiled

The presentation of the 80th Anniversary Victory events and the official logo unveil was held at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill, Moscow.

REMINDER: Next year marks 80 years since Nazism was defeated by the Soviet heroes and Allied forces.

🖼 On November 18, 2024, a special preview of the Peredvizhniki exhibition took place at the new Tretyakov Gallery building on Kadashovskaya Embankment. Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the event welcomed diplomats from approximately 50 countries, representing all corners of the world.

Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova addressed the distinguished guests, emphasizing the importance of cultural diplomacy. The attendees experienced the largest Peredvizhniki exhibition in 50 years, showcasing over 150 masterpieces by renowned 19th-century Russian artists, including works by Perov, Repin, Levitan and Kuindzhi.

🗓 Accompanied by a rich educational program, the exhibition will run until April 6, 2025, and has already become the centerpiece of the gallery’s 2024 season.

#Announcement

🎙 On November 21, Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing on current foreign policy issues:

🕐 1.00 pm MSK
🕙 10.00 am GMT
🕚 11.00 am CEST
🕕 6.00 pm Beijing

For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive detailed explanations on the technical aspects of submitting questions.

The Russia's Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.