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Trump’s Golan Heights decision bypasses UNSC, says Russia's parliament speaker

The move shows "disregard for dialogue with other UN countries", Vyacheslav Volodin noted

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump’s a decision on the Golan Heights bypasses the UN Security Council, Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said at a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Tuesday.

"The decision on the Golan Heights that the US president has made, showing disregard for dialogue with other countries within the United Nations, bypasses the UN and the UN Security Council, so all countries will have to clarify their stances on the matter," Volodin said. According to him, if such decisions continue to be made, "there may come a time when everyone will fight against each other," while the rule of force will lead straight to war.

"We need to do everything possible to prevent war from happening and tensions from escalating. We need to make every possible effort to bolster global security based on dialogue," the Russian parliament speaker went on to say. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of contacts between Russian and Lebanese lawmakers.

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Trump signs proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights

Volodin also reiterated that Russia opposed foreign interference in the domestic affairs of countries and highlighted the need to abide by international agreements and the United Nations Security Council’s decisions. According to him, relations between countries should be based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect, which is crucial for ensuring peace and global security.

On Monday, Trump signed a proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Golan Heights, which belonged to Syria since 1944, were seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1981, the Israeli parliament passed a law unilaterally declaring sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The UN Security Council declared the annexation null and void in its Resolution 497 on December 17, 1981.

Syria and other Muslim countries, as well as Russia and some key European Union members, including Germany and France, opposed Trump’s decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

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