The World Commission, established three-quarters of a century ago to maintain international peace and security, met in New York on Monday under their new leadership: the nation that has plunged Europe into conflict over the world. The largest set since the Second World War.
For the first time since February 2022, when its troops overran the border of neighboring Ukraine and launched a gratuitous war, Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. .
Oddly, no one was lost, except perhaps Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who dismissed the growing objection that Russia was not in a position to chair the Council.
“We do not abuse presidential privileges,” ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Monday at a news conference. “One thing is the country position. The second is the presidency of the Security Council, which we cherish.”
And indeed, the first day of the new presidency of the Security Council has begun on a regular basis.
It was a customary breakfast organized by the new leader and attended by representatives of all 15 member countries. It shows that “they’re all ready to go,” Mr. Nebenzia said.
There was also an administrative session of the Council at which the subject of war did not appear, as well as an afternoon meeting with all UN member states, at which Russia outlined its plans for the war. myself in the month. Those meetings reflect the largely ceremonial nature of Russia’s new missions — but work comes with podium, and that’s what some Western officials fear.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on Monday: “We expect that they will behave in a professional manner. “But we also assume that they will use their seats to spread misinformation and advance their own agendas regarding Ukraine. And we’ll gladly call them out any time they try to do it.
However, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield noted that the Council’s work is more than Ukraine, and members must work together on a wide range of global topics.
Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for the United Nations, said that the message from Secretary General António Guterres to Russia was similar to the message he sends to the president every month: “The more united the council is in its work, the more organized the organization will be. helpful”.
Russia has made it clear that with or without war it will make the most of the role of the United Nations, with Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov due to travel to New York at the end of April to chair two meetings. of the Council.
However, the president’s powers are limited, and for many, the symbolism is immeasurable. Just last month, the International Criminal Court issue arrest warrant against the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, accusing him of committing war crimes in Ukraine, where Russian forces regularly target civilian areas.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, denounced the transfer of the Security Council presidency to Russia, calling it “absurd and destructive.” American officials also lamented that, but said nothing could be done. The month-long presidency is rotated alphabetically among the 15 members of the Council and is simply Russia’s turn.
This is not the first time the Security Council has met in the shadow of war.
In London on January 17, 1946, amid the ruins of World War 11, the organization hold the first meeting. “Gentlemen,” the interim president announced. “In accordance with the terms of the charter, I declare the Security Council duly constituted.”
Russia – then the Soviet Union – was one of the five permanent veto members of the Council on that date, and remains a member to this day. That veto has complicated the agency’s work when it comes to the war in Ukraine.
The Council is charged with maintaining peace and security around the world, and the resolutions it adopts are legally binding. But it was unable to issue unanimous statements or pass resolutions on the war because of Russia’s power to prevent any action against itself.
The host State has no further influence over decisions or voting, generally planning and conducting meetings, and handling administrative work. But the chairing members often hold several meetings on global topics they want to highlight, including climate, women’s rights and peacekeeping in Africa.
Analysts say Russia’s presidency will require a difficult balancing act for European Council members and the US. On the one hand, they want to maintain a tough stance against Moscow, but on the other, they need to ensure that the work of the Council is not interrupted.
Richard Gowan, director of the United Nations’ International Crisis Group, an organization that seeks to prevent deadly conflicts, said: “The United States and Europe will grind their teeth to bear the Russian presidency. “The Russians have signaled that they want to avoid a major mess during the presidency.”
Although there are no fireworks on Monday, things can change on Wednesday.
The narrative war over Ukraine could flare up later when Russia convenes an informal council meeting on Ukrainian children it has forcibly brought across the border. Russia claims it acted to protect the children. The International Court of Justice declared it a war crime.
The goal of the meeting, Mr. Nebenzia said on Monday, was to “dispel some doubts and propagate on that matter.”
The second session will concern the export of weapons and military equipment. The focus will not be on any particular country, Mr. Nebenzia said – but the Kremlin has repeatedly condemned Western allies’ aid to Ukraine since the war began.
Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, is also scheduled to chair a meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on April 25.
And Mr. Lavrov, a tenacious defender On Russia’s war in Ukraine, it is expected to lead another session with a different theme: maintaining peace and security through multilateralism and the UN charter, sovereignty and respect , Mr. Nebenzia said.
That prompted a sharp reaction from Britain’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, James Kariuki.
“Russia has no right to talk about international law or the values of the United Nations,” he said.
