Russia has been accused of cynicism, abuse and hypocrisy by US, French and British ambassadors after they claimed those countries tried to pressure the UN secretariat to investigate the alleged use of Iranian drones in Ukraine.
The harsh criticism of Moscow was leveled on Wednesday at a Security Council meeting convened by Russia itself over alleged “risks to the integrity of the UN Charter”.
According to Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, the letter from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany to the United Nations Secretariat requesting an investigation into the alleged use of Iranian drones by Moscow is in Ukraine, in violation of Article 100. of the United Nations Charter.
“The actions of the Western delegations, demanding that the secretariat organize an investigation into the use of drones, has set a very dangerous precedent for the work of the United Nations and undermines the prerogatives of the Security Council,” Nebenzya said.
However, France deeply deplored Russia’s cynicism in convening a meeting on the integrity of the UN Charter, while Russia continues to violate the Charter, invade its neighbor and attempt to annex its territory.
“The facts are very clear. Iran supplied drones to Russia, which they used for indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets. These facts, which may constitute war crimes, are well documented and (…) constitute a violation” of UN resolutions, defended Nicolas de Rivière, the French ambassador.
US diplomat Robert Wood called Russia’s statements “shocking”.
“Article 100 states that ‘the Secretary General and his staff shall not solicit or receive instructions from any government.’ The requests from the United States and other members of the Council were not ‘instructions.’
“Many member states make requests of this kind, including Russia. In fact, in August this year, Russia asked the secretary general to investigate murders in a prison in eastern Ukraine,” the US diplomat recalled, adding that “such requests investigations are customary, appropriate and not contrary to Article 100 of the UN Charter”.
At the Security Council meeting, British Ambassador James Kariuki stressed that Russia and Iran “have been caught violating Security Council Resolution 2231”, expressing support for an “impartial and expert investigation by the UN”.
“Russia’s claim that we are trying to improperly influence the secretariat is absurd and hypocritical. (…) It was Russia that threatened to end all cooperation with the UN if the secretariat does not do what Russia wants. That is not the behavior of a country that has nothing to hide. It is the behavior of a ‘bully’,” Kariuki said.
Last week, Russia threatened to reassess its ongoing cooperation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres if the organization sends a mission to Ukraine to inspect the use of Iranian drones in the war.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Adviser Miguel de Serpa Soares clarified the nature of the work carried out by the secretariat in light of Moscow’s allegations.
According to Serpa Soares, it is “natural for member states to want to exert as much influence as possible over the activities of the organization, including the secretariat”, but it is up to the secretariat to insist on drawing a clear line “between cooperation and pressure”.
“Without departing in any way from the standards to be met by the Secretariat and the Member States under Article 100, the Secretariat takes note of all information brought to its attention by the Member States in order to verify and assess its relevance. mandates entrusted to her,” the Portuguese explained.
On the other hand, the UAE ambassador argued that “there can be no sovereign equality of member states if some try to influence or instruct the secretariat to act in a certain way”.
“Small states are aware of the risk, but it should be something that concerns anyone who is not privileged to have a permanent seat on the Security Council. It would be naive to pretend that member states have never tried to open the secretariat.” influence,” said Lana. nusseibeh. .
Source: DN
