Russia defended itself on Monday against the avalanche of criticism over its presidency of the Security Council in April, assuring that it would not abuse this position.
“Russia does not abuse the prerogatives of the presidency.
There is on one side the national position and on the other the role of the presidency of the Council”
, hammered the Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia during the press conference which marks the beginning of each rotating presidency of the Council.
Russia took over the council presidency on Saturday under rules that provide for a change of presidency every month in alphabetical order of permanent and non-permanent members.
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"Slap"
This situation provoked criticism from Ukraine, which called it a
"slap in the face of the international community",
and from its allies.
“As you know, Russia has chaired the Security Council since April 1.
It's like an April Fool's joke
," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on Monday.
“The truth is, it's a rotating seat.
We expect them to behave in a professional manner
,” she acknowledged.
“But we also expect them to use their headquarters to spread disinformation and to promote their own agenda when it comes to Ukraine, and we are ready to point fingers whenever
, she said.
Ukraine and the West have been denouncing Russian
“propaganda”
on Ukraine for months.
So this position is
"in the vein of the Western narrative"
, deplored Vassili Nebenzia, accusing in turn Kiev's allies of
"spreading disinformation",
in particular
"on the situation of Ukrainian children supposedly kidnapped in Ukraine and taken to Russia against their will
.
The International Criminal Court has issued a war crime arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for the
“illegal deportation”
of Ukrainian children during the Russian invasion.
A “stupid”
and
“illegitimate”
decision
, insisted the Russian ambassador who is organizing an informal meeting at the UN on Wednesday on this issue.
Read alsoA Russian spy, who had tried to infiltrate the ICC, charged in the United States
The Presidency of the Security Council gives certain prerogatives in terms of the agenda.
But as a permanent member, Russia already has the ability to get emergency meetings when it asks for them.
The country holding the presidency also usually organizes two or three specific meetings on selected topics.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is announced to chair one of them on April 24, on
“the defense of the principles of the UN charter”.
“Russia is not in a position to talk about international law or UN values
,” Deputy British Ambassador James Kariuki reacted on Monday to the event.
