Lavrov Calls for UN Security Council Reform, Rejects Additional Western Seats

NEW YORK: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for reform of the United Nations Security Council, saying the body should be adapted to current global realities by giving greater representation to Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Speaking to the media following the high-level week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, Lavrov said Russia could not support adding further seats for Western countries, arguing that the West is already overrepresented on the Security Council.

Lavrov also said the next UN secretary-general should represent the interests of all humanity and meet the requirements of the UN Charter, including impartiality and objectivity.

Ukraine Crisis

On efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov rejected suggestions that Russia was avoiding dialogue.

He said Russia had continued bilateral negotiations in Istanbul, while trilateral talks involving the United States had also taken place in Abu Dhabi. According to Lavrov, none of these negotiation rounds had been terminated by Russia.

Lavrov described the Islamabad Memorandum as a fair agreement and questioned why the parties should not return to it, given that it had been signed at the highest level.

Eurasian Charter

Commenting on the proposed Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century, Lavrov said Russia was not setting artificial deadlines for its drafting.

He said Moscow nevertheless did not want the process to be unnecessarily prolonged, arguing that the Eurasian continent needs a framework open to all countries and organisations of the region and free from external interference.

Russia-US Relations

On Russia-US relations, Lavrov said Moscow maintains regular dialogue with the administration of US President Donald Trump through various channels.

He described continued dialogue as a sign of normality and said diplomacy could not be reduced to public statements condemning Russia and demanding its “strategic defeat.”

Lavrov also said no country, including the United States, could resolve all global challenges on its own, particularly at the expense of other countries.

He expressed confidence that global realities would encourage Washington to adopt a more multilateral approach, saying the United States is not the world’s only economic or military power or the only independent actor on the international stage.

Russia-Europe Relations

Addressing calls by some European leaders to prepare for a potential war with Russia, Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s position that Russia does not intend to wage war against Europe.

He described the idea of Russia going to war with Europe as “absurd and nonsensical” and said Moscow believes it is Europe that is preparing for a conflict with Russia.