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RF presidency in UNSC to focus on concrete issues – Churkin

Special attention will be paid to the third nuclear test in North Korea and the situation in Afghanistan
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION, March 3 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s presidency in the U.N. Security Council will be rather intense and focus on key international issues, Russian permanent representative to the U.N. Vitaly Churkin said.

In an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass, Churkin said within the month members of the U.N. Security Council had to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Libya, Iraq and Somali, to hold meetings on the Middle East and Kosovo settlement and to focus on relations between South Sudan and its neighbour.

Special attention will be paid to the third nuclear test in North Korea and the situation in Afghanistan. “The country entered the responsible period. The presidential elections will take place in April. The foreign presence reduces. We see serious challenges that the leadership and the population face to ensure internal security and fight drug trafficking,” Churkin said.

He recalled that the situation in Afghanistan would be discussed at the ministerial level due to take place on March 19. It will be chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The participants in the meeting are expected to adopt a resolution on extending the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

The Russian permanent representative said the U.N. Security Council members should study the situation and give an objective assessment to intensify assistance to the Afghan people and contribute to Afghanistan’s statehood.

On March 1, Russia started the presidency in the U.N. Security Council.