The potential suspension of Russia's membership in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) might set a bad precedent, according to UN Secretary-General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has just resolved to conduct an extraordinary meeting of its general assembly to explore the possibility of suspending Russia's membership due to the military operation in Ukraine.

"As you know the Secretary-General has no role or authority over the UN World Tourism Organization, which is a specialized agency of the UN system. However, it is his belief that this could set a detrimental precedent to the functioning of the multilateral system," Dujarric said.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on the United Nations to send "a unified message" to Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

Blinken told the Human Rights Forum, "We must send a resolute and unified message that  President Putin should unconditionally stop this unprovoked attack, as the Secretary-General [of the United Nations] and the High Commissioner [on Human Rights] have done and immediately withdraw Russian forces from Ukraine."

Ironically, he also suggested that Russia should be stripped of UN rights council membership.

The Secretary of State virtually addressed the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.