MOSCOW, September 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov does not believe that the UN Security Council is paralyzed and unable to make a decision on Syria.
“The claims the UN Security Council is paralyzed and is unable to make a decision on Syria are fundamentally wrong,” he said.
He called upon the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who earlier claimed the Security Council was in a state of paralysis, to proceed from more balanced positions, the more so, since acute such issues were on the agenda.
“If we have been unable to agree on a compromise so far, this does not mean that a paralysis of power should be declared right away,” Gatilov said. “I am certain there do exist opportunities for accord.”
As he dwelt on the mission of the UN/LAS special envoy Lahdar Brahimi, Gatilov remarked that it was a delicate and complicated one. He voiced the hope that in his work the envoy would stick to the principle of continuity, support the Annan plan and the Geneva communiqu·.
“We have maintained regular contacts with Brahimi, including telephone conversations,” Gatilov said. He is scheduled to meet with Brahimi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“At the moment Brahimi is in the process of shaping his attitude to further activities,” Gatilov explained. “Possibly, he may have his own vision of how to go about the business of resolving the Syrian crisis.”