Nebenzia: UN Security Council meetings useless if the US fails to take Charter into account

Meetings of the UN Security Council make no sense if the United States believes it should not necessarily meet the UN Charter provisions – as stated by Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, at the Security Council meeting, TASS reports

Photo: www.tass.ru

“I want to ask the US delegation: do the statements of [US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda] Thomas-Greenfield and other officials mean that the United States does not consider the UN Security Council resolutions obligatory for the member states to follow? Do the recent words of Permanent Representative Thomas-Greenfield mean that the United States no longer considers itself bound by the provisions of the UN Charter and, moreover, encourages Israel to do so? If this is the case, then there is simply no point in our discussions in this room anymore. One of the permanent members of the UN Security Council actually openly declares that it does not obey the Charter of our organisation, disavowing the hard-won fruits of discussions in the Council, including the historic resolution on the ceasefire in Gaza,” Mr. Nebenzia stated.

Earlier, when commenting on Thomas-Greenfield's statement that the UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is not binding, Russia’s Permanent Representative said that all resolutions adopted by the Council are binding.

On March 25th, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution prepared by a dozen of non-permanent members of the organisation demanding that the fire in the Gaza Strip be stopped immediately during the month of Ramadan. The resolution was supported by all 14 Security Council members, including the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France. Only the United States abstained. The adopted document has three points, and it demands ‘an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire’. It also insists on the ‘immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs’.