Russian foreign minister, UN secretary general discuss Middle East, Ukraine conflicts

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the General Assembly session in New York.

"The meeting covered the most urgent international issues, including developments in the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Particular focus was given to various aspects of cooperation between Russia and the UN," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, noting that the meeting took place on Thursday.

Lavrov emphasized the importance of impartiality and neutrality by the UN Secretariat, including in relation to the situation in Ukraine.

He also urged Guterres to ensure that UN representatives are not involved in any one-sided peace initiatives.

Lavrov highlighted "violations" by the US of its obligations under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, related to non-issuance of visas to some representatives of Russian and other countries' delegations, and called on Guterres to initiate arbitration proceedings as outlined in General Assembly resolutions.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to constructive cooperation between Russia and the UN, and emphasized the central role of the global body in world affairs, stressing the importance of upholding the provisions of the UN Charter in full.

According to a UN statement, Lavrov and Guterres “discussed latest developments on issues on the agenda of the Security Council,” and “exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and its regional and global implications.” They also discussed UN-Russia cooperation, as well as the implementation of the Pact for the Future.