Medvedev: UN fate akin to League of Nations if US demands fulfilled

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Sep 2022 14:57
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The Russian official warns of the end of the UN if it responds to US demands that seek to delegitimize and affect its opponents' permanent membership.

Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (AFP)

Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned that the UN could end up like the League of Nations, its predecessor, if permanent members are isolated according to the US' request.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that "We will advance efforts to reform the UN Security Council. That includes efforts like our co-sponsorship of the veto resolution that asks permanent members to explain their vetoes to the General Assembly," noting that "We should not defend an unsustainable and outdated status quo. Instead, we must demonstrate flexibility and willingness to compromise in the name of greater credibility and legitimacy."

The US representative also argued that "We should forge a consensus around sensible and credible proposals to expand the Security Council’s membership."

Washington hoped to alter the status quo under the pretense that "The world is bigger than five," a slogan used by Turkey to express its absence from the table of permanent members.

In response to the US suggestion, the Russian representative, amid collective-West Russophobic measures, argued that "Compromises differ. If this one implies an attempt by the US driven by its zoological anti-Russian frenzy to breach the powers of UNSC permanent members, well, they’ll make themselves sick gulping down dust. Otherwise, the United Nations would suffer the fate of the League of Nations that went bust."

EU Russophobia

Earlier in the day, the European Council announced that it has fully suspended visa facilitation between the EU and Russia, thus reversing the agreement that served to simplify visa applications for Russian citizens.

The council, in a statement on its website on Friday, explained that the decision will entail increasing visa fees from €35 to €80 - more than double the initial agreement. More restrictive rules will also be implemented regarding multiple-entry visas.

EU states have also suggested banning Russian tourists altogether - however, that will cost the EU €21 billion in losses, which is why it did not go through. "By drawing an iron curtain around their countries, they punish themselves because of their own stupidity and ignorance,” said State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on his official Telegram channel.