Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin speaks to members of the media.
Photo: Reuters
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Russia’s Presidency at Security Council Expired
South Africa took over from Russia the rotating presidency at the U.N. Security Council at 00.00, New York time, Tuesday.
The Security Council held 16 official meetings, 13 consulting meetings and passed five resolutions over a month of Russia’s presidency, Russia’s envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told the reporters in the U.N. headquarters. Middle East, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iran’s nuclear program and the global cooperation in fighting terrorism were the most acute issues, Churkin said.
The Security Council may again consider in April the draft statement that Russia elaborated on Kosovo, the envoy specified, again lashing out at the United States for supplying weapons to the Kosovo Albanians in violation of the Security Council’s Resolution 1244 that determines the legal status of the province.
When addressing the reporters, Churkin expressed disappointment about Security Council’s inability to pass a resolution or president’s statement condemning the violence in the Middle East that escalated after Hamas gunmen fired missiles at the cities of Israel, Israel conducted a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip and a terror act was staged in Jerusalem. The official hoped that the Moscow international meeting on Middle East will bring momentum to the peaceful settlement there and create conditions enabling the Security Council to play more decisive part in the region.
Touching upon the nuclear program of Iran, Churkin recalled Resolution 1803 that imposed new economic sanctions on Tehran for its refusal to stop uranium enrichment. At the same time, the resolution excludes any chances for the military response to Iran.
Asked to comment on the calls to boycott the Beijing Olympics because of the violence in Tibet, Russia’s envoy urged to avoid turning sport into a political issue.
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