Russia assumes UNSC presidency despite Ukraine rejection, US criticism

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Apr 2023 17:34
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Russia's Ambassador to the UN says he would discuss a "new world order" that was coming to "replace the unipolar one."

United Nations Security Council meets in New York City, US, February 21, 2022 (Reuters)

Russia on Saturday has officially taken the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC), despite Ukraine calling on members to block the move and the United States criticizing Russia's permanent seat on the council.

The presidency of the UNSC rotates every month between the 15 member states, and Moscow last chaired the council in February 2022.

On Friday, the Kremlin said it planned to "exercise all its rights" in the role.

Russia's Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told TASS that he planned to oversee several debates, including one on arms control.

Nebenzia indicated that he would discuss a "new world order" that was coming to "replace the unipolar one."

Last month, Moscow said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is planning to chair a UN Security Council meeting on "effective multilateralism".

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has also said that Lavrov will lead a debate on the Middle East on April 25.

'The worst joke ever for April Fool's Day'

Commenting on the matter, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba considered on Saturday that Russia's presidency of the UNSC for the month of April is "a slap in the face to the international community."

"I urge the current UNSC members to thwart any Russian attempts to abuse its presidency," Kuleba said at the start of Russia's tenure of the body's rotating presidency.

In a statement on Twitter, Kuleba claimed that Russia was "an outlaw on the UNSC."

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister described Russia's presidency of the UNSC as "the worst joke ever for April Fool's Day" and a "stark reminder that something is wrong with the way international security architecture is functioning."

On his part, Ukraine's presidential advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak claimed the move was "another rape of international law... an entity that wages an aggressive war, violates the norms of humanitarian and criminal law, destroys the UN Charter, neglects nuclear safety, can't head the world's key security body."

Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, rebuked on Saturday what he called the "symbolic blow" of Russia assuming the presidency of the UNSC.

"It's not just a shame. It is another symbolic blow to the rules-based system of international relations," Yermak tweeted.

US officials comment on Russia's UNSC presidency

On its part, the US also criticized Russia's role and its permanent seat on the Security Council.

"A country that flagrantly violates the UN Charter and invades its neighbour has no place on the UN Security Council," White House Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier.

"Unfortunately Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and no feasible international legal pathway exists to change that reality," Jean-Pierre added, describing the presidency as "a largely ceremonial position."

She added that the US expects Russia "to continue to use its seat on the council to spread disinformation" and justify its actions in Ukraine.

The other permanent members of the UNSC are the US, the UK, France, and China.

It is noteworthy that on Thursday, United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, considered that Russia "should not be" a permanent member of the Security Council.

"Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council. It shouldn't be because of what it is doing in Ukraine," Thomas-Greenfield said.

However, the UN charter "does not allow changing its status as a permanent member," she noted.