UNITED NATIONS, June 29. /TASS/. Following the threats to downgrade the level of participation in the UN conference on counteraction to terrorism, it might be reasonable for US representatives to abstain from taking part in the event completely, the Russian mission to the UN said on Thursday.
It issued the statement in the wake of what the US mission to the UN said on Wednesday regarding the UN High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies.
"We would like to highlight the two major fraudulent elements of the Statement," the Russian mission said. "First of all, according to it, the organizer of the event, United Nations Office of Counterterrorism (UNOCT) allegedly made the ‘unprecedented and indefensible’ decision to exclude civil society from some of the most important meetings at the Conference."
"Secondly, the U.S. Mission has again found a ‘hand of Moscow’ - the UN Secretariat is claimed to be under pressure from ‘a handful of nefarious countries with no credibility on countering terrorism’. Russia, Syria, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela made it to the shortlist," the statement said. "The U.S. dared to include Russia, Syria and Iran - the countries standing in the front line of the fight against terrorism."
"The U.S. delegation threatened to downgrade the level of its participation in the Conference. U.S. representatives could consider completely refraining from participation if they are not eager to fight against terrorism collectively," it said. "Although they need it like other members of international community, not less.".