In other international news: Is it possible to completely get rid of WMD, and what's preventing doing so? UN tried to find the answer to this question. Sergei Lavrov represented Russia this time in the Security Council. The head of Russian Foreign Ministry proposed to create a new mechanism for investigating chemical attacks in Syria, Moscow considered the old one ineffective, I note that specialists weren't even at the site of the WMD use. In addition, Lavrov visited the exhibition dedicated to the victims of Holocaust, and held several bilateral meetings, including with the Kazakhstan President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and UN Secretary General, António Guterres.
Our special correspondent, Valentin Bogdanov will tell us about their talks.
The situation on the Korean peninsula presents new challenges to world security, so in the Security Council the topic of debates on the non-proliferation of WMD is trendy. Kazakhstan President, who took the chairmanship for the first time in country's history, has proposals on how to reduce tensions.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: "As the main measure to eliminate the incentives for WMD possession, I consider it necessary to develop a legally binding guarantee system of nuclear powers to other countries, who voluntarily renounce possession of nuclear weapons, as well as those with a non nuclear status".
But it's a risky maneuver to force the nuclear powers themselves to make such a refusal, Sergei Lavrov reminded the Security Council.
Sergei Lavrov: “Russia doesn't intend to join the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. Since the total elimination of nuclear weapons is possible only in the context of general and complete disarmament in the conditions of ensuring equal and indivisible security for all".
US attempts to disrupt the nuclear deal with Iran, and a surge of chemical terrorism in the Middle East are also disturbing. The investigation of the chemical attacks in Syria was to be carried out by a joint UN and OPCW effort, but, thanks to Washington's efforts, it was turned into a political accusation tool against Damascus. Nikki Haley now blames Moscow for the fact that the commission's mandate has not been extended.
Nikki Haley: "The special commission came to the conclusion that both the Assad regime and ISIS used chemical weapons and both sides should answer for their actions, but one country is preventing the Security Council from fulfilling its duty, and this is Russia."
In reality, Russia wants to bring back the effort. But its work must comply with the norms of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It's the West who opposes it.
Sergei Lavrov: "Over the past 3 years, we have repeatedly proposed to adopt a UN Security Council resolution or at least the statement of its chairman condemning specific acts of chemical terrorism in Syria and Iraq. Unfortunately, all our proposals have met strong resistance from a number of our Western colleagues, who prefer to turn a blind eye to the facts of use and even manufacture of chemical weapons by terrorists, and make unfounded accusations against Damascus".
They managed to divide everyone into "us and them" even in such unambiguous issues as the attitude towards Nazism. In the General Assembly only the US and Ukraine voted against the Russian resolution on not allowing the heroization of Nazis and their accomplices.
Sergei Lavrov: "We can't but be concerned that recently we have seen a creeping rehabilitation of Nazism, in a number of countries, including those classifying themselves as models of democracy, a systematic line is being drawn to review the outcome of WWII, including the glorification of Nazis and local collaborators' activities".
An exhibition opened in the UN reminds about their crimes during the period of the Holocaust. The exposition, which was viewed by Sergey Lavrov, is devoted to the feat of the Soviet doctors who rescued Auschwitz concentration camp prisoners, which was liberated by the Red Army.
The work in high-level UN meetings by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs will continue today, Afghanistan is one of the issues, where peace is necessary for safety in Central Asia and more.
Valentin Bogdanov and Ivan Utkin. From New York — Vesti
