Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs is in New York – to steer the role of chairman of the UN Security Council. The decision has provoked strong reactions and several member states have protested. – It is both remarkable and not remarkable at all, says TV4 Nyhetern’s foreign affairs commentator Lisa Grenfors. Today began the meeting where Sergey Lavrov holds the chairmanship of the UN Security Council. The meeting began with UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemning the “devastation” that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused. – By all accounts, the UN will continue to highlight the crimes committed by Russia against international law in Ukraine, says TV4 Nyhetern’s foreign affairs commentator Lisa Grenfors. The EU protests The Presidency of the UN Security Council rotates so that each member has one month at a time. The fact that Lavrov is now sitting as chairman has provoked strong reactions, both in Ukraine and in other member states. Several countries have chosen not to send their foreign minister, but sent people at a lower diplomatic level. Before today’s meeting, the Swede Olof Skoog, representative on site at the UN for EU member states and ambassadors, came out and condemned the decision. – We know that when Russia destroys, we build. When they threaten, we protect. – Wherever you look, Russia is despised. Lisa Grenfors believes that these kinds of protests and statements are necessary – even though they rarely actually reach Russia. – We already know that this type of statement falls on deaf ears in Russia. But somewhere you can’t let this pass from the other countries’ point of view, and then it’s important to take different measures and steps, says Lisa Grenfors. She emphasizes that Lavrov’s prominent role in Russia’s war against Ukraine means that it sticks out extra in the eyes of many. What makes it possible for him to become chairman is that Russia is one of the five permanent member states of the UN. – This is a fact. You have this system that you rotate the position of chairman and yes, then it can be like this, says Lisa Grenfors. “Doesn’t have to be Einstein” Ukraine believes that Russia should be completely excluded from the UN Security Council. But doing so would require a complete rewrite of the bylaws. – It’s a system you’ve had since just after the Second World War, how the UN is organized. So it is something that is not easily redone. In addition, Russia can exercise its right of veto in the event of a proposal. – And you don’t need to be Einstein to understand how Russia would vote if you put forward a proposal to remake the entire system, says Lisa Grenfors. – We know that when Russia destroys, we build. When they threaten, we protect, says Olof Skoog. – Wherever you look, Russia is despised.
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