What Putin actually said at the UN General Assembly (Best Translation)
What Putin actually said at the UN General Assembly (Best Translation)
Published on Aug 11, 2016
I noticed that all of the translations on Youtube of what Putin actually said at the UN General Assembly on September 28th 2015 were either very vague or unclear. I have translated this to make it more understandable as to what Putin was trying to express.
''Just look at the situation in the middle East and North Africa, as mentioned by the previous speaker. Indeed, political and social problems had been brewing there for quite some time, and the people there had naturally wished for changes.
But how did things actually end up turning out? Rather than bring reform, aggressive foreign intervention had instead unceremoniously lead to the destruction of state institutions and the very way of life. Instead of the triumph of democracy and progress; there is violence, poverty, and social disaster, and a disregard for human rights; including the right to life.
One cannot help but ask those who created such a situation: Do you now realize what you have done? But I'm afraid that no one is going to answer that; as politics based on self-conceit, impunity, and beliefs in exceptionalism are not easily abandoned.
It is now obvious that the power-vacuum created in some countries in the Middle East and North Africa has lead to the emergence of areas of anarchy which have immediately begun to be filled with extremists and terrorists. Tens of thousands of militants are now fighting under the banner of the so-called ''Islamic State.'' Among them include former Iraqi servicemen who were thrown out onto the street after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Many recruits also come from Libya, a country whose statehood was destroyed as a result of the gross violations of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. And now the ranks of the radicals have been joined by the so-called ''moderate'' Syrian opposition supported by the Western countries.
First they are armed, and trained, and then they defect to the so-called ''Islamic State' side. The ''Islamic State'' itself did not just appear from nowhere. It was also initially created as a tool against undesirable secular regimes.
Having established a foothold in Iraq and Syria, the ''Islamic State'' is now actively expanding and is seeking dominance in the Islamic world; and not only there, its plans go even further than that... This situation is extremely dangerous.
Under these circumstances it is hypocritical and irresponsible to make loud declarations about the threat of international terrorism, and at the same time turn a blind eye to the channels of funding of support for terrorists, including the proceeds from drug-trafficking, and the illicit trading of arms and oil. It would be equally irresponsible to try to manipulate extremists groups, and place them at one's service in order to achieve one's own political objectives, in the hope of later ''dealing'' with them, or in other words: ''eliminating'' them.
To those who carry out such acts, I would like to say: that you are no doubt dealing with violent and cruel people, but they are by no means primitive nor stupid - they are just as clever as you are, and you never know who is manipulating who for their own purposes. The recent data of arms transfers to the most ''moderate'' opposition to terrorists, is the best evidence of that.
We believe that any attempts to play games with terrorists, especially arming them, is short-sighted and extremely hazardous. This may result in increasing the global terrorism threat, and engulfing new regions around the world, especially given the fact that Islamic state-run camps train militants from many different countries, including European countries.
Unfortunately, I must admit dear colleagues that Russia is no exception. We cannot allow these criminals who have already tasted blood, to return back home where they will continue their evil deeds. We do not want this to happen, and neither does anyone else.
Russia has always consistently fought against terrorism in all of its forms. Today we provide military and technical assistance to both Iraq and Syria, and many other countries in the region who are fighting against terrorist groups. We believe that it is an enormous mistake to refuse to cooperate with the legitimate Syrian government and its armed forces, and with those who are courageously fighting terrorism face-to-face. We should also acknowledge that no one but President Assad's army, and Kurdish militias, are truly fighting Islamic State and other terrorist organizations in Syria.
We understand all of the problems and contradictions in the region, but we must proceed in accordance with reality.
Dear colleagues, I must note that in recent years our honest and direct approach has been used as a pretext to accuse Russia of growing ambitions, as if those who say it have no ambitions themselves.
However, dear colleagues, it's not about Russia's ambitions, but recognition of the fact that we can no longer tolerate the current state of affairs in the world.''
