Russia defends its UNSC presidency, says will not abuse the place

Russia defended its UNSC presidency on Monday amid a barrage of criticism from totally different international locations. Russia will preside over the UN Safety Council for April. Many international locations, together with Ukraine, confirmed their concern over Russia’s presidency throughout a time when Russia and Ukraine are at battle with one another.  

Defending its stance, Russia insisted that it’s going to not abuse its place to defend its invasion of Ukraine. “We don’t abuse the prerogatives of the presidency”, stated the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia. 

“One factor is the nationwide place. The second factor is the function of the presidency of the Safety Council,” he stated at a press convention marking Russia’s assumption of the rotating place.

The scenario provoked stinging criticism from Ukraine, which known as it a “slap within the face to the worldwide group” and from its allies. 

“As you understand, Russia is assuming its seat as president of the Safety Council. Began on April 1. It’s like an April Idiot’s joke,” stated Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador.

“However the reality of the matter is, it’s a rotating seat. We count on that they’ll behave professionally,” she stated.

“However we additionally count on that they’ll use their seat to unfold disinformation and to advertise their agenda because it pertains to Ukraine, and we are going to stand able to name them out at each single second that they try to try this,” the ambassador added.

Ukraine and the West have for months been denouncing Russian ‘propaganda’ over its invasion of Ukraine in February final 12 months.

Watch | Ukraine decries ‘symbolic blow’ as Russia assumes UNSC Presidency

Nebenzia stated such criticism was within the “vein of the Western narrative” and in flip accused Kyiv’s allies of spreading disinformation particularly about “the scenario of Ukrainian youngsters who have been allegedly kidnapped from Ukraine and dropped at Russia towards their will”.

The Worldwide Prison Courtroom (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant towards Russian President Vladimir Putin on costs of battle crimes for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian youngsters through the battle. 

The Russian ambassador replied and known as the warrant ‘silly’ and ‘illegitimate’. And never simply that he’s additionally organising an off-the-cuff assembly on the UN on Wednesday to handle the difficulty. Because the everlasting member of the UNSC, Russia has the ability to convene emergency conferences at any time when it desires them.

Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov is because of chair one of many UNSC conferences on chosen matters, on April 24 on ‘the defence of the ideas of the UN constitution’. 

(With inputs from companies)

You possibly can now write for wionews.com and be part of the group. Share your tales and opinions with us right here.