Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on Saturday, in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, that the West is undermining peace and stability in the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, stressing that Moscow remains “consistent in defending Serbia’s sovereignty”.
Lavrov stressed that the West’s actions in the Balkans, where, as he said, such a statutory principle as the obligation of all UN members to respect Security Council decisions is being violated, are “a clear example of undermining sovereignty and flagrant interference in internal affairs”.
He said that “systematic attacks directed against the Serbian people and their fundamental rights” are being carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Moscow has no intention of attacking NATO and the EU
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov clarified that Moscow has no plans to attack NATO or the EU, warning that any “aggression” against his country will be “resolutely rejected”.
Lavrov said Russia “has increasingly suggested to NATO capitals to respect their obligations and agree on legally binding security guarantees. Our proposals have been ignored and continue to be ignored.”
“Moreover, threats of the use of force against Russia, which is accused of practically planning an attack on NATO and EU countries, are becoming more frequent. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied such provocations. Russia has never had, and does not have, such intentions,” Lavrov said in his address to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Lavrov: Recognition of Palestine is overdue
Lavrov also spoke about the situation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, expressing that the world is essentially “dealing with an attempted coup d’état aimed at overturning UN decisions on the creation of a Palestinian state.”
“Recently, a number of Western governments have announced recognition of the State of Palestine. They had already announced their intention to do so several months ago. The question arises: why did they wait so long? They apparently hoped that soon there would be nothing left to recognize,” he said.
The Russian Foreign Minister also touched on the situation regarding Iran’s nuclear program, saying that the rejection of the Chinese and Russian initiative against Iran in the UN Security Council revealed their “policy of sabotaging the search for constructive solutions in the UN Security Council and their desire to extract unilateral concessions from Tehran through blackmail and pressure.”
“We consider this policy unacceptable, and all Western manipulations to restore UN sanctions against Iran, as well as the sanctions themselves, are illegal,” Lavrov added.
