9619TH MEETING (AM)
SC/15683

Security Council Hears Briefings on Nord Stream Gas Pipelines

(Note: The final summary of this meeting will be available at a later time.)

The Security Council met this morning on the topic of threats to international peace and security.  Briefing the Council were Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; Oguljeren (Jerena) Niyazberdiyeva, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism; Larry C. Johnson, political commentator and expert in the field of counter-terrorism.

THREATS TO INTERNATION PEACE AND SECURITY

Briefings

MIROSLAV JENČA, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said that the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022 has sparked widespread speculation that risks further fuelling tensions among Member States.  Noting that his briefing is based “solely on information that is publicly available”, he underscored that the UN has no additional details regarding the events and is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports made regarding the incident.  He added that the full extent of its environmental impact, including on marine and local wildlife, is yet to be grasped.

After leaks in the pipelines were reported, the Danish, German and Swedish authorities announced the launch of separate national investigations, he recalled, pointing to their 10 July 2023 joint letter to the Council President (document S/2023/517) indicating that the leaks were caused by the use of explosives.  However, the Russian Federation expressed concern over these national investigations and called for “comprehensive and objective proceedings”.  In February 2024, the Danish and Swedish authorities informed the Council about the closure of their respective investigations.  In March 2024, Moscow reiterated its concerns, calling for an international commission to investigate the Nord Stream incidents further.

While stating that any intentional damage to critical civilian infrastructure should be condemned and investigated, he urged all actors to exercise restraint and wait for the conclusion of the remaining investigation.  He added:  “We strongly encourage Member States to continue cooperation and sharing of information to ensure the security of all international waters — including the Baltic Sea, which is critical for regional commerce, security and stability.”




https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15683.doc.htm