MOSCOW, April 24. /TASS/. By carrying out a missile strike on Syria, the United States and its allies flagrantly challenged the entire United Nations’ system, a senior official at Russia’s Security Council told TASS on Tuesday.
"The US missile strike on April 14 jointly with the United Kingdom and France on a number of Syrian governmental facilities was an example of a blatant defiance of the norms and principles of international law and a flagrant challenge to the entire UN system and international community which is on the path to multipolar development," said Alexander Venediktov, an aide to the Russian Security Council Secretary, in an interview with TASS.
- US-led strikes on Syria violate all international rules, Russia's defense chief notes
- Lavrov blasts US-led strike on Damascus for torpedoing progress in Syrian peace process
- US strike on Syria has not helped peace settlement — UN envoy on Syria
- Syria hands over two unexploded cruise missiles to Russia found after US strike — source
- Russian senator blasts US strike on Syria as attempt to derail peace process
"Tensions in the world are mounting and more often a choice is made in favor of a military solution to resolve conflicts," he stated.
"Unfounded accusations of using chemical weapons or violating human rights have led to catastrophes in Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya," Venediktov noted.
He recalled that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, one of key proponents of invading Iraq in 2003, later apologized for the international coalition’s actions which were based on erroneous intelligence data. "The toppling of the Iraqi regime generated the biggest threat to peace and security in the Middle East, the Islamic State (terror group, outlawed in Russia)," the official stressed.
Tensions in the world and the war on terror will be discussed at the international summit of high-ranking representatives responsible for security issues due to be held in Sochi on April 25-26, Venediktov said. The conference’s two foremost issues will be: "Hotbeds of international tensions: from conflict to dialogue" and "The evolution of international terrorist organizations’ strategy and tactics."
"In our view, these are the key problems in the realm of security today, which the international community is now facing," he emphasized.
The US-led air strikes on Syria were actually aimed at supporting terrorism, he went on. "The West’s new act of aggression was actually aimed at supporting terrorism, while responsible members of the global community have been fighting against it," he said.
"Under the current circumstances, no country can feel safe," Venediktov added. "Only joint efforts will make it possible to eliminate threats from terrorism and forces supporting it," he pointed out. "We are confident that in the world of today, there is the need to resume the search for options and scenarios for resolving conflicts peacefully, increasing trust, carrying out discussions to figure out ways to build dialogue and cooperation between the opposing sides," he stressed.
The Russian Security Council has registered attempts by some Western countries to talk other states out of taking part in international forums held in Russia, he added.
"Western media outlets have unleashed an anti-Russian campaign aimed at influencing international public opinion and denigrating Russia’s policy," he stated. "Some Western countries are trying to impose on other states their stance concerning the need to refuse to take part in international forums held in our country."
Venediktov noted that the annual meetings of high representatives overseeing security issues organized by Russia’s Security Council are known as the "platform for depoliticized and professional exchange of views on the most pressing international security challenges where one can not only hear and express different approaches but also take the opportunity to establish contacts with relevant experts and hold bilateral talks with representatives of various countries."
"Our forum makes it possible for its guests, regardless of the size of the country and the political weight in the international arena, to present their stance to a wide audience," he stressed. "As a result, interest in the event is growing."
"Apparently, the countries that are not present in Sochi [at a Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues opening there on April 25] isolate themselves from the professional and open exchange of views on the pressing international security issues," Venediktov added.