Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at UN Security Council stakeout
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
US Representative to the United Nations
New-York, New-York
April 5, 2023
AS DELIVERED
AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I just wanted to take another opportunity to say that as Russia takes over the Security Council presidency, we will use every opportunity to push back on it using its seat on the chair to spread disinformation and close its seat use to request support for their efforts. That’s why today we took a stand against her Arria Formula briefing finger, a woman accused of war crimes and involved in the deportation and expulsion of children from their homes to Russia. And we resolutely resist that. And that is why we have joined the UK to prevent UN WebTV from being used to allow her to have an international podium to spread disinformation and try to defend her horrific actions that are taking place in Ukraine. In general, we do not reject the use of UN WebTV. We were concerned that China used it in our Arria to block the fact that the Arria is being used, but to that end we do not support it being used by any person to inform that we know that she committed war crimes.
ASK: Ambassador, I believe you met with Ambassador Nebenzia yesterday. Is this the first time you’ve met in person since the war began? And what were you talking about?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: I spoke to my Russian counterpart yesterday about the arrest of an American journalist and expressed our strong, strong demand that he be released immediately. That it is really outrageous to use a journalist who was already accredited in Russia and accuse him of the kind of actions they accuse him of. And I have joined all of our colleagues in the US administration — Secretary of State Blinken, as you know, also spoke to his counterpart — in demanding that he, as well as other Americans who are being held, be released immediately.
ASK: Ambassador, may I ask you about Afghanistan? The Taliban now look set to ban women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan. First, what is your reaction to this? And secondly, doesn’t it raise questions about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan again? The way you withdrew meant you had no leverage to create a unity government. Haven’t you failed the Afghan people and women of Afghanistan?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: First, let me address the last part of your question. We have never failed the people of Afghanistan. We are working very, very closely with our Afghan partners and fighting what the Taliban are doing, their attempt to wipe out women. And that’s awful; it is unacceptable. We are working with other members of the Council, as well as with the Secretary-General and the UN, to respond. You must not continue to prevent women from supporting women. And we’ve said from the start that we’ll judge them by their actions, and their actions certainly suggest there’s no reason to recognize that as a legitimate action.
ASK: Are you or one of the UN [inaudible] Will you attend the arria to raise the opposition?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: As you have heard, there will be no other ambassadors. And neither I nor any of my ambassadors will sit in the chair. We will have an expert in the chair who has been instructed to step out when the briefinger that we have objected to speaks.
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