RUSSIA Takes Over UN Security Council Presidency – Focus On Persian Gulf Security
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia is the President of the UN Security Council for the month of October 2020.
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – RUSSIA officially took over the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council Thursday. The Russian Federation’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia will preside as President at the Security Council for the month of October. The presidency of the council is held by each of the members for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the member states’ Names. Russia follows Niger which held the presidency the month of September. The UN Security Council comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members – the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States and France. Much of the Council’s work is likely to remain remote due to COVID-19 restrictions, although an effort is underway to hold several meetings on UN premises. Russia will hold a debate focusing on a comprehensive review of the peace and security situation in the Persian Gulf region under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”. Secretary-General António Guterres is a possible briefer. Ambassador Nebenzia held a press conference Thursday at UN world headquarters in New York to present Russia’s October Programme in the Security Council.
As one of the long-term objectives, Russia envisions the creation of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in the Persian Gulf, which would be composed of the countries in the region as well as Russia, China, the US, the EU, India, and other interested parties as observers or associate members. Russia has said that the process of establishing such a security system should be initiated through bilateral and multilateral consultations among stakeholders in the region and beyond, including regional organisations. This would eventually lead to an international conference on security and cooperation in the Gulf during which stakeholders would be called upon to agree on the main parameters of the future security system. Hostilities between the US and Iran have contributed to the already tense security situation in the region.
Two open debates are also anticipated late in the month. The quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question” is expected to feature a briefing by Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov. There will also be an open debate on Women, Peace and Security.
The mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara will be renewed. Prior to that, Council members will meet on the mission’s work and developments in Western Sahara. Several other African issues are on the programme.
Meetings are anticipated on:
- the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
- the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali
- the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic
Ambassador Denies Russia Trying to Dominate Arctic Region With Military Build up
There have been concerns that Russia’s recent military return to the Arctic has strategic implications for the United States, including allegations Russian icebreakers in the region have missiles aboard them. There are concerns an increase in investment and capacity by Russian in the Arctic also restricts the movement and access of NATO. In June the U.S. opened its new diplomatic consulate in Nuuk Greenland as the strategic importance of the High North is attracting the attention of major powers including Russia and China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Denmark just weeks after the United States reopened its new diplomatic consulate.
“The Arctic does not belong to Russia. But we don’t want a military buildup in the artic. We don’t want to privatize the Arctic. It should be an area of mutual interest.” Ambassador Nebenzia said in response to a reporter’s question on the Artic.
Russia Denies Involvement in Navalny Poisoning
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny blames Vladimir Putin for poisoning him. Leading Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny says he believes President Vladimir Putin was responsible for his poisoning.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that there was information that “specialists” from the CIA were working with Navalny “these days” and giving him instructions.
UN Security Council Asked To Address Navalny Poisoning
The poisoning of Navalny “constitutes a threat to international peace and security,” Britain, France, Germany, Estonia and Belgium wrote in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, according to the letter seen by Reuters on Thursday. “We call on the Russian Federation to disclose, urgently, fully and in a transparent manner, the circumstances of this attack and to inform the Security Council in this regard,” they said in the letter sent to the 15-member body late on Wednesday.
“If You Have Facts, Present Them” -Russian Ambassador To UN
Credit: Gary Raynaldo / © Diplomatic Times / Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia at UN world headquarters in New York.
Ambassador Nebenzia took issue with the letter, saying it was sent to the full 15-members of the Security Council even before Niger’s September presidency was over.
“We say if you have facts (of Russian involvement) present them, provide us with the relevant materials,” Nebenzia said, adding “We hear that Navalny has made statements that he believes President Putin is behind this. We also hear other statements by others that Putin is responsible. This is immoral. It is an insult.”
