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Unilateral sanctions in place against 20% of UN member nations — Russian mission

She noted that the sanctioned countries are denied access to lending mechanisms and external markets and may be driven to the brink of survival

UNITED NATIONS, February 16. /TASS/. Unilateral sanctions imposed by individual states in bypassing of the United Nations Security Council even amid the coronavirus pandemic are in force against 20% of United Nations member countries, Maria Zabolotskaya of the Russian mission to the United Nations said on Tuesday.

"Of special concern are unilateral measures of compulsion that are not based on international law and that were imposed without a corresponding resolution of the UN Security Council or in addition to its measures," she said at a meeting of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. "Even amid the global pandemic, unilateral sanctions have been imposed on 20% of United Nations member states."

She noted that the sanctioned countries are denied access to lending mechanisms and external markets and may be driven to the brink of survival, with no resources to fulfil their social liabilities to their citizens. Such a situation is still in place, despite UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ and the General Assembly’s calls of a year ago for refraining from sanctions amid the pandemic.

"In this context, we support Iran’s initiative to work out guiding principles on ways to prevent, remove, mitigate and compensate for the losses from negative impacts of unilateral sanctions," she added.

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