Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed Russia's support for India and Brazil's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. 
 
In his address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly on, he stressed that a "fairer world order" requires the expansion of the representation of the Global South in the UNSC. 
 
Lavrov stated, "We are not stepping away from dialogue with the West. In July, upon the proposal of Russia, there was an open debate in the Security Council on the subject of building a more just, more sustainable world order. We believe it is important to begin the discussion that has begun in the UN as well as in other platforms. A fairer world order undoubtedly requires the expansion of the representation of the Global South in the UN Security Council." 
 
"We support our position in favour of the candidacies of Brazil and India, while at the same time taking a positive decision on the well-known initiatives of the African Union. However, of course, we cannot even talk about any additional seats for Western countries, who are already excessively over-represented within the Security Council," he added. 
 
Notably, India has long sought a permanent seat in the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The nation's quest has gained momentum with support from the international community. Earlier on Friday, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay voiced support for India's bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC. 
 
In his address, Lavrov accused the West of trampling the values of globalisation. He said that the nations of the West have imposed a sanctions war against half of the nations in the world and is using the dollar as a "weapon." 
 
Sergey Lavrov said, "Just like Ban Ki-moon and Kofi Annan in the past, the current Secretary-General advanced his own initiative, under the slogan 'rebooting the global cooperation'. It is an excellent slogan, who could be opposed to that."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gdp-measured-in-radicalisation-indias-jaishankar-takes-a-dig-at-pakistan-in-unga-address-762848">‘GDP measured in radicalisation,’ India’s Jaishankar takes a dig at Pakistan in UNGA address</a> 
 
"But, what global cooperation can we really talk about at a time when the West has trampled all of these unshakeable values of globalisation that they have been telling us about for so many years from this...trying to convince us that they would ensure equal access for everyone to the goods of contemporary civilisation, where is the inviability of property, the presumption of innocence, freedom of speech, access to information, fair competition on markets with understandable and changing rules," he added. 
 
Stressing that West has been using dollar as a weapon, Lavrov said, "The Secretary-General is talking about the global cooperation. At the sametime, the countries of the West have unleashed a varitable sanctions war against a good half, if not the majority of the states in the world and the dollar which was advertised to us as the heritage and good of all of humanity has been worsely tranformed as a weapon." 
 
Calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula "hopeless," Lavrov urged Russia's partners to take into account the facts about the real causes of the situation. 
 
"We value the sincere aim of a number of our partners to advance mediation initiatives. We value their constructive focus on results, unlike the hopeless Zelenskyy peace formula. We call upon friends in their further efforts to fully take into account the facts about the real causes of the situation," he said. 
 
In 2022, Zelensky&nbsp;presented Ukraine's 10-point peace formula to world leaders at the G20 Summit in Indonesia's Bali. The 10-point peace formula includes a path to nuclear safety and food security, a special tribunal for alleged Russian war crimes and a final peace treaty with Moscow.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed Russia's support for India and Brazil's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. In his address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly on, he stressed that a "fairer world order" requires the expansion of the representation of the Global South in the UNSC.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed Russia's support for India and Brazil's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. In his address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly on, he stressed that a "fairer world order" requires the expansion of the representation of the Global South in the UNSC. Lavrov stated, "We are not stepping away from dialogue with the West. In July, upon the proposal of Russia, there was an open debate in the Security Council on the subject of building a more just, more sustainable world order. We believe it is important to begin the discussion that has begun in the UN as well as in other platforms. A fairer world order undoubtedly requires the expansion of the representation of the Global South in the UN Security Council." "We support our position in favour of the candidacies of Brazil and India, while at the same time taking a positive decision on the well-known initiatives of the African Union. However, of course, we cannot even talk about any additional seats for Western countries, who are already excessively over-represented within the Security Council," he added. Notably, India has long sought a permanent seat in the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The nation's quest has gained momentum with support from the international community. Earlier on Friday, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay voiced support for India's bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC. In his address, Lavrov accused the West of trampling the values of globalisation. He said that the nations of the West have imposed a sanctions war against half of the nations in the world and is using the dollar as a "weapon." Sergey Lavrov said, "Just like Ban Ki-moon and Kofi Annan in the past, the current Secretary-General advanced his own initiative, under the slogan 'rebooting the global cooperation'. It is an excellent slogan, who could be opposed to that." Also Read | ‘GDP measured in radicalisation,’ India’s Jaishankar takes a dig at Pakistan in UNGA address "But, what global cooperation can we really talk about at a time when the West has trampled all of these unshakeable values of globalisation that they have been telling us about for so many years from this...trying to convince us that they would ensure equal access for everyone to the goods of contemporary civilisation, where is the inviability of property, the presumption of innocence, freedom of speech, access to information, fair competition on markets with understandable and changing rules," he added. Stressing that West has been using dollar as a weapon, Lavrov said, "The Secretary-General is talking about the global cooperation. At the sametime, the countries of the West have unleashed a varitable sanctions war against a good half, if not the majority of the states in the world and the dollar which was advertised to us as the heritage and good of all of humanity has been worsely tranformed as a weapon." Calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula "hopeless," Lavrov urged Russia's partners to take into account the facts about the real causes of the situation. "We value the sincere aim of a number of our partners to advance mediation initiatives. We value their constructive focus on results, unlike the hopeless Zelenskyy peace formula. We call upon friends in their further efforts to fully take into account the facts about the real causes of the situation," he said. In 2022, Zelensky presented Ukraine's 10-point peace formula to world leaders at the G20 Summit in Indonesia's Bali. The 10-point peace formula includes a path to nuclear safety and food security, a special tribunal for alleged Russian war crimes and a final peace treaty with Moscow. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov backs India's UNSC bid at UNGA

On Saturday (April 1), Russia takes over the rotating presidency of the 15-nation United Nations Security Council for a month, a move that is being decried by Ukraine and the US.

Russia, which is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, can authorise military action, deploy peacekeepers, sanction nations and individuals, and refer possible war crimes cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC) even as the country’s President Vladimir Putin is facing an arrest warrant for war crimes&nbsp;from The Hague.

However, critics are questioning how could Russia take over the UN’s most powerful organ when its leader, Vladimir Putin, was served with an arrest warrant by the ICC over alleged war crimes, and the Kremlin planning to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus amidst the Ukraine&nbsp;war.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba termed the starting of Russia’s one-month presidency a “bad joke”.

“Russian UN Security Council presidency on April 1 is a bad joke. Russia has usurped its seat; it’s waging a colonial war; its leader is a war criminal wanted by the ICC for kidnapping children,” Kuleba said on Twitter.

“The world can’t be a safe place with Russia at UNSC #BadRussianJoke #InsecurityCouncil.”

<h2>Russia's new foreign policy in line with 'modern realities'</h2>

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Echoing similar concerns, US White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday said that the Biden administration expects Russia “to continue to use its seat on the council to spread disinformation” and urged the country “to conduct itself professionally” during its time with the presidency, Reuters reported.

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Russian presidency in the UNSC is a stark reminder that something is wrong with the way international security architecture is functioning. A state that systemically ruins international peace and security will be presiding over the body tasked with maintaining them <a href="https://twitter.com/United24media?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@United24media</a> <a href="https://t.co/7x4qPttzI3">pic.twitter.com/7x4qPttzI3</a>
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) <a href="https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1641770518180241409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and no feasible international legal pathway exists to change that reality,” Jean-Pierre said.

UNSC comprises 15&nbsp;members. While the permanent members are Russia, China, the US, France and the United Kingdom, the non-permanent members of the council are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for two-year terms. The permanent members take turns as president according to alphabetical order (as per the English spellings).

The last time Russia presidency came up in the rotation was in February 2022, when Putin launched his "special military operation" into Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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On Saturday (April 1), Russia takes over the rotating presidency of the 15-nation United Nations Security Council for a month, a move that is being decried by Ukraine and the US.

On Saturday (April 1), Russia takes over the rotating presidency of the 15-nation United Nations Security Council for a month, a move that is being decried by Ukraine and the US. Russia, which is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, can authorise military action, deploy peacekeepers, sanction nations and individuals, and refer possible war crimes cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC) even as the country’s President Vladimir Putin is facing an arrest warrant for war crimes from The Hague. However, critics are questioning how could Russia take over the UN’s most powerful organ when its leader, Vladimir Putin, was served with an arrest warrant by the ICC over alleged war crimes, and the Kremlin planning to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus amidst the Ukraine war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba termed the starting of Russia’s one-month presidency a “bad joke”. “Russian UN Security Council presidency on April 1 is a bad joke. Russia has usurped its seat; it’s waging a colonial war; its leader is a war criminal wanted by the ICC for kidnapping children,” Kuleba said on Twitter. “The world can’t be a safe place with Russia at UNSC #BadRussianJoke #InsecurityCouncil.” Russia's new foreign policy in line with 'modern realities' Echoing similar concerns, US White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday said that the Biden administration expects Russia “to continue to use its seat on the council to spread disinformation” and urged the country “to conduct itself professionally” during its time with the presidency, Reuters reported. Russian presidency in the UNSC is a stark reminder that something is wrong with the way international security architecture is functioning. A state that systemically ruins international peace and security will be presiding over the body tasked with maintaining them @United24media pic.twitter.com/7x4qPttzI3 — Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 31, 2023 × “Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and no feasible international legal pathway exists to change that reality,” Jean-Pierre said. UNSC comprises 15 members. While the permanent members are Russia, China, the US, France and the United Kingdom, the non-permanent members of the council are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for two-year terms. The permanent members take turns as president according to alphabetical order (as per the English spellings). The last time Russia presidency came up in the rotation was in February 2022, when Putin launched his "special military operation" into Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia takes over presidency of UN Security Council; US, Ukraine call it ‘April Fools' joke’

An Ethiopian military helicopter crashed inside a United Nations compound in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, killing three crew members and injuring 10 passengers, the UN said in a statement Sunday.

The statement said the helicopter was carrying 23 passengers when it crashed on Saturday inside the compound of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), "killing three of its crew members."

"Ten passengers were injured with three in critical condition," it said.

The MI-8 helicopter was carrying Ethiopian troops from Kadugli in Sudan to Abyei, which has been contested since South Sudan gained independence in 2011.&nbsp;

"We are investigating the incident," said UNISFA's acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu.

Ethiopia is the sole troop-contributing country to UNISFA, with some 4,500 soldiers on the ground.

The UN Security Council has warned that the situation in Abyei and along the Sudan-South Sudan border "continues to constitute a serious threat to international peace," and called on the two countries to show concrete progress on border demarcation and monitoring.

An Ethiopian military helicopter crashed inside a United Nations compound in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, killing three crew members and injuring 10 passengers, the UN said in a statement Sunday.

An Ethiopian military helicopter crashed inside a United Nations compound in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, killing three crew members and injuring 10 passengers, the UN said in a statement Sunday. The statement said the helicopter was carrying 23 passengers when it crashed on Saturday inside the compound of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), "killing three of its crew members." "Ten passengers were injured with three in critical condition," it said. The MI-8 helicopter was carrying Ethiopian troops from Kadugli in Sudan to Abyei, which has been contested since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. "We are investigating the incident," said UNISFA's acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu. Ethiopia is the sole troop-contributing country to UNISFA, with some 4,500 soldiers on the ground. The UN Security Council has warned that the situation in Abyei and along the Sudan-South Sudan border "continues to constitute a serious threat to international peace," and called on the two countries to show concrete progress on border demarcation and monitoring.

Three killed in UN helicopter crash in disputed region

Myanmar&#39;s government has told the Security Council that this month was &quot;not the right time&quot; for a visit by the top UN body to see first-hand the Rohingya refugee crisis, the council president said on Thursday. 
 
Kuwait&#39;s Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi said Myanmar authorities were not opposed to such a visit, which could take place in March or April. 
 
&quot;They just think that this is not the right time for a visit,&quot; Otaibi, who holds the council presidency for February, told reporters at UN headquarters. 
 
The council has demanded that hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya who were driven out of Rakhine state during an army crackdown be allowed to return. 
 
The ambassador said Myanmar authorities were trying to organize a visit for diplomats based in the country and had emphasized that &quot;tensions are high in Rakhine state at the moment.&quot; 
 
Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh and are living in refugee camps since August following the campaign that the United Nations has said was tantamount to ethnic cleansing. 
 
Last month, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to name a special envoy for Myanmar, but that appointment has yet to be made. 
 
China, a supporter of Myanmar&#39;s former ruling junta, and Russia voted against the resolution.&nbsp;

Myanmar's government has told the Security Council that this month was "not the right time" for a visit by the top UN body to see first-hand the Rohingya refugee crisis

Myanmar's government has told the Security Council that this month was "not the right time" for a visit by the top UN body to see first-hand the Rohingya refugee crisis, the council president said on Thursday. Kuwait's Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi said Myanmar authorities were not opposed to such a visit, which could take place in March or April. "They just think that this is not the right time for a visit," Otaibi, who holds the council presidency for February, told reporters at UN headquarters. The council has demanded that hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya who were driven out of Rakhine state during an army crackdown be allowed to return. The ambassador said Myanmar authorities were trying to organize a visit for diplomats based in the country and had emphasized that "tensions are high in Rakhine state at the moment." Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh and are living in refugee camps since August following the campaign that the United Nations has said was tantamount to ethnic cleansing. Last month, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to name a special envoy for Myanmar, but that appointment has yet to be made. China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, and Russia voted against the resolution.

Myanmar turns down UN Security Council visit