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Next secretary-general must heed Russia, if he does not want UN to decline — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that specific actions, not mere words and assurances, are important for the Russian side

MOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. The next Secretary-General of the United Nations must heed Russia's demands, if he does not want the global organization to sink into oblivion, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has told the media.

Earlier, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, one of the candidates for the post of next UN Secretary-General, expressed the opinion that the UN is gradually losing its significance and is slowly dying.

"The next secretary-general is simply obliged to listen to our demands, if he does not want the United Nations to sink into oblivion," Ryabkov said, commenting on Grossi's statement.

He emphasized that concrete actions, not mere words and assurances, are important for the Russian side.

"We will unwaveringly demand from all candidates [for the post of UN Secretary-General] compliance with, and will be guided in our relations with the ultimate winner, precisely by this set of imperative approaches. Without them, we are certain, the crisis inherent in the current condition of the United Nations will only worsen. Any parallels and metaphors can be applied," he emphasized.

"Perhaps we wouldn't want to allow this to happen, but some day the organization will have to be transferred to, so to speak, a political intensive care ward. There's still some time before that happens," Ryabkov added.

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Foreign policy Sergey Ryabkov

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