Statement by

Mr. Mohammad Ghorbanpour,

 First Secretary

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN

Agenda item 135: The Responsibility to protect and the Prevention of Genocide,

 War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity

Before the General Assembly

New York, 17 May 2021

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Madam President,

The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the noble goal of the protection of civilians. We fully share the sentiment that the international community must be vigilant to prevent not only the horrors of mass killings but also break the cycle of genocide from the past that might be repeated. History has time and again proven to us that inaction on the part of the United Nations in the face of tragic cases of genocide and crimes against humanity as well as outrageous acts of aggressions have led to the death, injury and displacement of millions of innocent people. However, this was due more to the failure of the Security Council rather than the result of an absence of a normative framework in this regard.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is of the strong view that we are still far from a consensual understanding of R2P as a notion. Several votes on the inclusion of this item in the Agenda items of the General Assembly are a testimony to this claim. However, the controversies around this notion are not rooted in the prevention of the atrocity of crimes, but rather on this notion’s definition, implementation and scope of application. Furthermore, and the most important aspect that is a matter of serious legitimate concern for the international community, are the scenarios for the preparation of different kinds of interventions held in the internal affairs of sovereign States under the disguise of responsibility to protect as well as introducing country-specific resolutions with the same aims. We also believe that the efforts to clarify the scope and implementation of this notion should not be carried out in a way to reinterpret or renegotiate the well-established principles of international law as enshrined in the UN Charter as well as other existing legal frameworks.

 The primary responsibility to prevent the commission of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity lies with sovereign States. This is echoed by the principles of international law as enshrined in the UN Charter and also articulated in paragraphs 138 and 139 of the 2005 Summit Outcome Document. The international community at large may step in to help upon request on a case by case basis and through the Security Council of the United Nations to prevent such horrendous atrocities. Prevention should be seen as a long-term strategy and be interpreted in broad terms and mainly include non-coercive measures. Prevention involves a broad range of issues from the promotion of sustainable development, education and health to eradication of poverty, marginalization and discrimination. This, by no means whatsoever, may imply the permit to use force against the sovereign State under any pretext, such as in the case of humanitarian intervention which may pave the way for all manners of politically-motivated interventions in order to instill a regime change or act as an interference in the internal affairs of countries.

 Furthermore, any attempt to introduce parallel initiatives to or alternatives for the UN’s central role, such as introducing the concept of international leadership of a state or group of states or unilateral coalitions outside the UN framework, not only undermines the UN’s role in the implementation of the rule of law at the international level but would also manipulate this notion for political purposes that are doomed to failure.

Madam President,

A number of staunch R2P proponents, contrary to what they claim, have been ignorant to the deep-rooted causes of crisis and atrocities as well as facilitated the occurrence of atrocities by selling arms to the volatile regions by blinding their eyes to fulfill their obligations pertaining to the protection of the population. Their unwavering support to the perpetrators of crimes and atrocities against the Palestinians that we are witnessing present days is another example of this double standard as well as lack of seriousness to protect civilians as claimed by them. The current situation in occupied Palestine is a live example of the seriousness of the proponents of this notion regarding their commitments that have been repeatedly expressed today.

Madam President,

 Notwithstanding the formal discussions that have taken place in the General Assembly, we are still far from a consensual understanding of the R2P implementation. The formal discussion in the General Assembly is not an appropriate format to address existing conceptual differences among Member States. We reiterate our call that reverting to the informal interactive dialogue as agreed upon in 2009 could be more beneficial towards achieving consensus over this controversial concept.

Madam President,

Concerning the draft resolution, A/75/l.82 entitled “The Responsibility to protect and the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity”, the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly opposes the dissemination of any premature, biased and politically-motivated concepts that intrinsically violate the very fundamental principles of international law, such as respect for equal sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs of states and prohibition of the sue or threat to use force. We cannot accept those agendas that ultimately undermine collective security and rule of law under the UN that have the potential to be misused to serve internal political agendas.

The Islamic Republic of Iran disassociate itself from this attempt and expresses its unequivocal objection to the inclusion of this Agenda item to the annual agendas of this Assembly in order to record our commitment to the avoidance of being an accomplice in any future intervention against nations, interference in internal affairs of states and atrocities thereafter that might occur under the pretext of this notion.  

I thank you, Madam President.