By EDITH M. LEADERER
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - First, the Russians drew the attention of the United Nations to the commissioner for children's rights, who, along with President Vladimir Putin, was accused of war crimesdeportation of Ukrainian children to Russia,triggered a strike by the United States and several others.
Russia then went after the West, claiming it would be breaking international law by arming Ukraine, receiving harsh responses that Ukraine had every right to defend itself against Putin's invading army.
So far, Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council has been the most controversial in the memory of long-time UN diplomats and officials. And only in the middle.
More fireworks are set to take place later this month when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov presides over the key event of the presidency - an open council meeting to defend the principles of the UN Charter. Russia is widely accused of violating the Charterby invading Ukraineand disregarding its underlying principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly in alphabetical order among its 15 members. When it was Russia's turn, both US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it an April Fool's joke. The US envoy promised to "take every opportunity to prevent them from using their place in the chair to spread disinformation and use their chair to demand support for their efforts."
With the new presidenttraditional press conference on day one,Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia defended himself against the April Fool's comments, asking Borrell: "Who's talking?" He said Russia had previously been "an honest mediator" when it was president of the Council and would try to use that approach to maintain.
As for US claims that Russia is spreading disinformation about Ukraine, Nebenzia dismissed them as part of "the Western narrative."
"We think exactly the opposite," he said.
The President of the Security Council presides over the sessions and decides the topics of the signature meetings, which are often chaired by foreign ministers and sometimes presidents. Lavrov will chair a session on "Effective Multilateralism in Defending the Principles of the UN Charter" on April 24, where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will brief members.
Nebenzia told reporters that Russia seeks a forward-looking discussion on the formation of "a new multipolar world order based on sovereign equality, equal rights and self-determination, justice and security, friendly relations and cooperation between nations, with full respect for the goals and principles of the United Nations." " Charter.” Ukraine's allies are already preparing their rebuttals.
There are also required monthly meetings, including on the Middle East, which Lavrov will also chair. Others focus on global hotspots, including Syria, Mali, Libya, Yemen, Haiti, the Great Lakes region and Colombia.
OnMali meeting last week, Russia's Wagner Group, a private military firm with close ties to the West African nation and fighting in Ukraine, has been approached by several Kiev supporters.
At the beginning of their presidency, the Russians chose one of the hottest topics of the Ukraine war - the fate of Ukrainian children kidnapped in Russia. For the informal meeting of the Security Council, they chose Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, who sits with Putin, as their briefing spokeswomanwanted by the International Criminal Courtfor war crimes.
In an initial protest, ambassadors from Western countries boycotted the meeting and instead sent low-level diplomats. And when Lvova-Belova startedcontact the council via video linkdiplomats from the United States, Great Britain, Malta and Albania left Russia.
U.S. policy adviser Ngoyi Ngoyi called it "outrageous" that she was allowed to speak, saying children between the ages of 4 months and 17 years have been transferred to 40 facilities in Russia or Russian-occupied Ukraine. He said at least two of these centers coordinate adoptions by Russians, which Russia denies.
"If Russia is not trying to hide a systematic program to impose Russian citizenship on Ukrainian children, then it should allow humanitarian organizations full access," Ngoyi said. "As simple as that."
Lvova-Belova said the children were taken to Russia for their safety and that Moscow is coordinating with international organizations to return them to their families. The International Committee of the Red Cross later said it had been in contact with her about the return of Ukrainian children, and UNICEF also said it had communicated with Russian officials "but had received no response to our offer to facilitate the reunification processes ."
There is great disagreement about how many children have been deported from Ukraine.
Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya tweeted that more than 19,500 children had been confiscated from their families or orphanages and forcibly deported. Lvova-Belova said that since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia has received more than 5 million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children - all with parents, relatives or guardians, except for 2,000 from orphanages in eastern Donbass.
France's deputy human rights adviser Thibault Samson called the meeting a "new cynical disinformation exercise" and accused Lvova-Belova of spreading "propaganda" and "a false version of the situation".
"A lie repeated ad nauseam is a lie," Samson said.
Ahead of Russia's second signing event on arms and military equipment exports, its ambassador said the discussion would be conducted "from an arms control perspective" rather than focusing on a specific country.
But at the official council meeting on April 10, Nebenzia accused the West of encouraging countries that violate agreements not to export arms from Russia without his written consent, with the aim of increasing supplies to Ukraine. He said the West is also pushing for the resumption of Soviet arms production by Eastern European countries that were once part of the Soviet bloc and are now Western allies.
Nebenzia then dismissed what he described as "baseless accusations" from the West that Iran and North Korea were supplying weapons to Moscow in violation of Security Council sanctions.
Again, Western ambassadors boycotted the meeting, leaving the seats in the council chamber occupied by MPs and low-ranking diplomats.
Speaking on the floor, Albania's political coordinator, Arian Spasse, said the Security Council had found itself in "uncharted waters" this month: "A country that respects the UN Charter and the most fundamental rules of relations between states has brutally violated presidents over that body , who is responsible for peace and security."
Without naming Russia, he said the permanent councilor had "done everything to undermine peace and security and endanger the world."
France's deputy political coordinator, Alexandre Olmedo, told the council that it was well documented that Russia used combat drones from Iran and bought missiles and ammunition from North Korea.
"France and the European Union will continue to provide all necessary support to Ukraine as long as it is needed," he said.
US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said Russia began its presidency "to justify the kidnapping of Ukrainian children" and then continued to "make a thinly veiled attempt to portray Russia as a responsible arms control actor and to... try to obscure the reality it launched an unjustified armed invasion of its neighbor.”
"The most effective and obvious path to peace and reducing the risk of illegal diversion of arms would be for Russia to end the war it started and withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine," Wood said. "We again call on Russia to do this, and do it now."
FAQs
Can Russia be removed from UN Security Council? ›
To accomplish this, first, a resolution proposing Russia's expulsion/suspension needs to go to the General Assembly from the Security Council, per Art. 12, #1. Second, the General Assembly must vote by a two-thirds +1 supermajority in favor of expulsion.
What happened to Russia in the UN? ›Since 1991, Russia has had a seat at the U.N. absolutely illegally, being the only participating country that has neither signed the organization's 1945 founding Charter nor ever been voted a member by the General Assembly.
Why is Russia important to the UN? ›The Russian Federation maintains full responsibility for all the rights and obligations of the USSR under the Charter of the United Nations, including the financial obligations.
Is Russia the president of the United Nations Security Council? ›Russia has taken the presidency of the UN Security Council despite Ukraine urging members to block the move. Each of the council's 15 members takes up the presidency for a month, on a rotating pattern. The last time Russia had the presidency, February 2022, it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Why can't Russia be removed from UNSC? ›And given that Russia has a veto on the Security Council, the Council cannot recommend Russia's removal without Russia's agreement. This simply will not happen. So no, Russia cannot be kicked out.
Can a permanent member of UN be removed? ›A Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
Is Russia still a permanent member of the UN? ›PERMANENT AND NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS
Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term year): Albania (2023) Brazil (2023)
As of May 2022, Russia/USSR has used its veto 121 times, the US 82 times, the UK 29 times, China 17 times, and France 16 times. On 26 April 2022, the General Assembly adopted a resolution mandating a debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council.
Who abstained from the UN vote on Ukraine? ›A large majority — 141 countries — voted in favor of the resolution, while 32 countries, including Asian heavyweights China and India, abstained from voting. Seven countries, including Russia, voted against the resolution. Nearly a year ago, in March 2022, a similar resolution was adopted by the United Nations.
How much does Russia contribute to the United Nations? ›In accordance with the present scale of contributions to the UN regular budget Russia's rate equals 1.602%, which places Russia as ranking 14th among all the UN member states.
When did Russia leave the United Nations? ›
After walking out of the United Nations in January 1950 known as the Chinese Boycott, the Soviet Union returned to various United Nations bodies in August 1950.
How important is Russia to the world? ›In 2021, Russia ranked 13th among world goods exporters and 22nd among importers. According to Russian official sources, its goods exports totaled $492 billion in 2021, up 46% from 2020 (not adjusting for inflation) (Figure 2). Minerals, including oil and gas, accounted for almost 45% of these exports.
What is the most powerful organ of the United Nations? ›The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
Why is Russia a permanent member of the UN Security Council? ›After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia was recognised as the legal successor state of the Soviet Union and maintained the latter's position on the Security Council.
Who is head of the United Nations? ›António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1st January 2017.
Can a country be kicked out of UN Security Council? ›"A Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council." This has never happened.
What UNSC resolution against Russia's invasion of Ukraine? ›The eleventh emergency special session of the UNGA convened several times and passed the following resolutions: Resolution ES-11/1 "Aggression against Ukraine", March 2, 2022, 141–5–35 (for–against–abstained) Resolution ES-11/2 "Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine", March 24, 2022, 140–5–38.
Why didn't Russia veto the UN resolution? ›The UNSC debated the resolution and made amendments and revisions to its wording before passing it. The Soviet UN ambassador was not present at the UNSC meeting as a result of the Soviet boycott against the UN, rendering the Soviet Union unable to veto resolution 82.
Why is China in UN Security Council? ›China is one of the charter members of the United Nations and is one of five permanent members of its Security Council. One of the victorious Allies of World War II (the Chinese theatre of which was the Second Sino-Japanese War), the Republic of China (ROC) joined the UN upon its founding in 1945.
Is North Korea apart of the UN? ›North Korea and the UN (1991–present)
North Korea has never held a seat on the UN Security Council. It has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York City, and additionally maintains a mission to the UN in Paris and an Ambassador to the UN at the UN Office at Geneva.
Why only 5 countries have veto power? ›
What Countries Have Veto Power? Currently, there are five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council that have permanent seats in the United Nations. These five nations also have veto power effectively because their affirmative vote is required to pass a resolution.
Is Ukraine a permanent member of UN? ›...
Ukraine in the Soviet Union (1945–1991)
| United Nations membership | |
|---|---|
| UNSC seat | Non-permanent |
Today Ukraine is a member of such UN bodies as the Economic and Social Council (2019-2021), the Human Rights Council (2018-2020, re-elected for 2021-2023), the Commission on Social Development (2020-2023), the Commission on Population and Development (2021-2024), the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary ...
Why are there only 5 permanent members of the UN? ›According to Oppenheim's International Law : United Nations, "Permanent membership in the Security Council was granted to five states based on their importance in the aftermath of World War II." Sometimes referred to as the P5, the permanent members of the Security Council have a unique role that has evolved over time.
Why veto power should be abolished? ›The veto does more harm than good, both to the UN's overarching mission and to the Security Council's role in it. The UNSC is meant to maintain international peace and stability, which it can't do when conflicts involving the five permanent members frequently lead to vetoes.
What was the UN vote on Ukraine? ›...
United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1.
| UN General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1 | |
|---|---|
| Code | A/RES/ES-11/1 (Document) |
| Subject | Aggression against Ukraine |
| Voting summary | 141 voted for 5 voted against 35 abstained 12 absent |
| Result | Resolution adopted |
NATO and the U.N. are two organizations trying to work together despite the fact that they have very different philosophies: NATO is an organization designed to fight war, if necessary, in order to defend peace; whereas the U.N. is an organization designed to avoid war in order to maintain peace.
Can veto power be removed from UN? ›The UN charter does not prescribe any procedure by which its five permanent members can be deprived of their veto power or even expelled from the security council. There is no legal mechanism for it.
Has the UN condemned Russia? ›The Assembly also condemned Russia's invasion as illegal in a resolution on 2 March 2022. It also deplored the humanitarian situation created by the invasion on 24 March 2022. These resolutions have been politically and legally significant.
What 4 countries voted with Russia? ›Syria, North Korea, Belarus and Nicaragua joined Russia as the five opposing votes.
How much does Russia rely on other countries? ›
The Russian economy relies heavily on EU and US companies for many imported products. In 2020, there were 1,716 product categories (out of 4,385) with a value of €57 billion (28 percent of Russian total imports) for which at least half of Russia's imports came from the EU and the US.
How much does Ukraine contribute to the world? ›Ukraine produces one-third of the world's sunflower oil and accounts for nearly half of global exports. Those exports were valued at $6.4 billion in 2021. Top markets in 2021 were India (31 percent), the European Union (30 percent), and China (15 percent).
How much does Russia cover the world? ›Russia (Russian: Россия, romanized: Rossiya, [rɐˈsʲijə]), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass.
What did Stalin think of the UN? ›According to Gaiduk, the Soviets believed that the UN should be limited to maintaining peace. They were against the idea of granting power to the UN to resolve economic, cultural, or humanitarian issues. And they worked to consolidate as much authority as possible to the Security Council where they held a veto.
What did UN do to Russia and Ukraine? ›On March 2, during an emergency special session, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding that "the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."
Who is the Russian delegate to the United Nations? ›Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya (Russian: Василий Алексеевич Небензя; born 26 February 1962) is a Russian diplomat and the current Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations. His official title is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
What has Russia ever done for the world? ›the first satellite, Sputnik 1 (the ball shape under the ceiling) the first spacesuits (lower-left corner) the first human spaceflight module, Vostok 1 (center) the first Molniya-type satellite (upper right corner)
Is Russia a world superpower? ›The Russian Federation, the world's largest nation, is home to over 30% of the world's natural resources according to some sources. Since its imperial times, it has been both a great power and a regional power. Throughout most of the Soviet-era, the Soviet Union was one of the world's two superpowers.
How much oil does the US buy from Russia? ›In April 2022, the United States imported about 10.8 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products from Russia, marking a decrease from the previous month. The May 2021 figure was the highest over the observed period. In total throughout 2021, the imports exceeded 245 million barrels.
Which organ of the UN is no longer used? ›Historically, a sixth main organ, the Trusteeship Council, played a significant role in the process of decolonization. The Trusteeship Council suspended its operations in 1994 and is no longer active, but it cannot be formally dissolved without amending the UN Charter.
How many countries are not in the UN? ›
The United Nations (UN) is the largest intergovernmental organization in the world, with a current membership of 193 member states and two permanent non-member observer states (Palestine and Vatican City/Holy See).
What is the most powerful council in the world? ›The Security Council is the United Nations' most powerful body, with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security." Five powerful countries sit as "permanent members" along with ten elected members with two-year terms.
Can Russia be kicked out of the Security Council? ›To accomplish this, first, a resolution proposing Russia's expulsion/suspension needs to go to the General Assembly from the Security Council, per Art. 12, #1. Second, the General Assembly must vote by a two-thirds +1 supermajority in favor of expulsion.
What if the US left the UN? ›If the US departed the UN, it is likely some US allies, such as Israel, would also leave. As well as likely triggering the exit of allied countries, a US departure from the UN could cause countries that are less aligned to America to also leave the organisation.
What are the criticisms of the United Nations? ›Often cited points of criticism include: a perceived lack of the body's efficacy (including a total lack of efficacy in both pre-emptive measures and de-escalation of existing conflicts which have ranged from social disputes to all-out wars), antisemitism, appeasement, collusion, promotion of globalism, inaction, abuse ...
Can the UN Security Council veto be removed? ›The UN charter does not prescribe any procedure by which its five permanent members can be deprived of their veto power or even expelled from the security council. There is no legal mechanism for it.
Why is Russia still a permanent member of the Security Council? ›After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia was recognised as the legal successor state of the Soviet Union and maintained the latter's position on the Security Council.
Is Russia a permanent member of UN Security Council True or false? ›PERMANENT AND NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS
The Council is composed of 15 Members: Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term year): Albania (2023)
"A Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council."
Why can Russia veto UN security? ›As one of five permanent members of the Security Council (P5), Russia has veto powers over any resolution put to the UN. While the UN Charter charges the Security Council with primary responsibility for international peace and security, any action requires the affirmative vote of the P5.
Is the UN Security Council resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine? ›
The tenth paragraph of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 2 March 2022 confirmed the involvement of Belarus in unlawful use of force against Ukraine. The resolution was sponsored by 96 countries, and passed with 141 voting in favour, 5 against, and 35 abstentions.
Who has permanent veto power in the UN? ›In the United Nations' Security Council, decisions are made with a majority of 9 votes of the 15 Council members' votes. All decision is rejected if one of the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, United States, France, United Kingdom, Russia) makes use of its veto.
Should the UN veto power be abolished? ›The veto does more harm than good, both to the UN's overarching mission and to the Security Council's role in it. The UNSC is meant to maintain international peace and stability, which it can't do when conflicts involving the five permanent members frequently lead to vetoes.
Who controls the UN? ›The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a 5-year, renewable term. The current Secretary-General, and the 9th occupant of the post, is António Guterres of Portugal, who took office on 1 January 2017.
When did China join the UN? ›One of the victorious Allies of World War II (the Chinese theatre of which was the Second Sino-Japanese War), the Republic of China (ROC) joined the UN upon its founding in 1945.
Is North Korea a part of the UN? ›North Korea and the UN (1991–present)
North Korea has never held a seat on the UN Security Council. It has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York City, and additionally maintains a mission to the UN in Paris and an Ambassador to the UN at the UN Office at Geneva.
In accordance with the General Assembly's "Uniting for Peace" resolution of November 1950 [resolution 377 (V)], if the Security Council fails to act, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member, then the General Assembly may act.