UNITED NATIONS, August 30. /TASS/. The UN Security Council has adjourned a meeting on extending sanctions against Mali following Russia’s request for additional consultations.
"I invite interested parties to come forward for consultations. The meeting is adjourned," said Robert Wood, the US deputy envoy to the UN, who presided over the meeting.
Russia earlier suggested to hold additional consultations on two competing proposals seeking to extend sanctions on Mali, so that an agreement could be reached. When Wood denied the request, although it was supported by some countries, Russia’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya asked to put the issue to a procedural vote. Wood responded by saying he was suspending the meeting for a few minutes. About 50 minutes later, Wood resumed the meeting, but immediately, without a procedural vote, announced it was being adjourned for consultations.
Two draft resolutions on the extension of Mali sanctions had been submitted to the Security Council for the meeting. The Russian one proposed to extend them for a year, but stipulated that this would be the last extension, while the Western one proposed to extend the restrictions for a year without mentioning it would be the last extension.