Live updates 77th session of UNGA: Russian FM slams West for 'grotesque' Russophobia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov bitterly criticized Western nations Saturday over the Ukraine war, telling the United Nations that the United States and its allies are seeking to "destroy" his country.

"The official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented. Now the scope is grotesque," Lavrov said in a fiery UN General Assembly speech. 

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday (September 24), the foreign minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia looked to join and support the international community with petroleum and the fight against extremism.

"My country attaches great importance to human rights with explicit texts to protect those rights," said Saudi Foreign Minister, Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, at UNGA. "The kingdom is continuing its efforts are for progress and development, to protect the future of our population and strengthen the abilities of men and women to innovate and to be open to dialogue and tolerance."

He expressed concern about the misappropriation of the UN's platform to cover up wrongdoing in Pakistan and defend reprehensible actions against India. He pointed out that a government that professed to value peace would never support international terrorism, provide sanctuary to Mumbai attack organisers, assert unwarranted territorial claims, covet their territories, or pursue unreasonable integration.

Russia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has said that the West is introducing dividing lines.

Speaking during the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Lavrov said ''For many years, we have been proposing to have security to have the basis of equal security level, no one wants to strengthen it.''

''I am convinced that any state would do the same who understands the responsibility of their people.''

''Ukraine is just an expandable material. A long-term threat will be PRC,'' he added.

Moscow launched referendums on joining Russia in the four occupied regions of Ukraine on Friday, drawing condemnation from Kyiv and Western nations, who dismissed the votes as a sham and pledged not to recognise their results.

North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski has called for a united global stance against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Addressing delegates at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Kovachevski said Russia's invasion and occupation of its smaller neighbour's territory had set a "dangerous and impermissible precedent".

Kovachevski also said his country aligns itself with democratic principles and is "committed to peace and to finding dialogue-based solutions."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Indian counterparty Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the "crisis" in Ukraine, its foreign minister Wang Yi told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, adding that the pressing priority was to facilitate talks for peace.

"The fundamental solution is to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture," Wang said in his address.

Russia's strategic partner China has been firmly on the fence, criticizing Western sanctions against Russia but stopping short of endorsing or assisting in the military campaign.

In a surprising acknowledgement, Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said China's leader Xi Jinping had concerns about Ukraine.

Wang also said Beijing would continue to work for "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, and that it should combat "independence separatist activities" while taking forceful steps to oppose any external interference.

"Only by resolutely forestalling separatist activities can we forge a true foundation for peaceful reunification. Only when China is completely reunified, can there be enduring peace across the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama slammed Iran for being tied to a disruptive July cyberattack on Albania.

"We will not tolerate Iran’s increasingly aggressive cyber activities," he said during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He pledged his country's full support for Ukraine while urging de-escalation.

"It is hard to imagine that anyone here can silently accept such disgraceful disregard of laws, rules, norms and practices that govern relations between states in the 21st century," Rama said.

Abdoulaye Maiga, Acting Prime Minister, Republic of Mali: “Almost ten years after its establishment, the objectives for which MINUSMA was deployed in Mali have not been achieved. And this, despite the numerous resolutions of the Security Council. That is why the Government of Mali reiterates its request, many times expressed, for a paradigm shift, an adaptation of MINUSMA to the environment in which it is deployed, and better coordination with the Malian authorities. From this perspective, it is extremely important that MINUSMA keeps supporting Mali’s quest for stability.” 

“It is extremely important that MINUSMA keeps supporting Mali’s quest for stability.”

He also said that almost ten years after its establishment, the objectives for which the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was deployed in the country, have not been achieved. “And this, despite the numerous resolutions of the Security Council,” Maiga added.

He continued, “That is why the Government of Mali reiterates its request, many times expressed, for a paradigm shift, an adaptation of MINUSMA to the environment in which it is deployed, and a better coordination with the Malian authorities.”

India on Friday (local time) showcased its growth story at a special event on “India@75: India – UN Partnership Event” at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking at the event, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj said, “It is my honour to welcome you to this special event where we celebrate 75 years of our independence as well as honour our valued partnership with the United Nations. As all of you know, India was among the 50 founding members of the UN. The world has changed since then, well so has India. Our growth story needs no elaboration; transformative changes are taking place in every sector in India today. We are proud of our traditions and confident in our future. Our development model can be encapsulated in three words – inclusive, equitable and sustainable.”

Countries on the front lines of the climate crisis are fed up.

During the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations this week, low-lying island nation Vanuatu stepped up a fight to get the world to focus on combating global warming by calling for a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty.

"The time is up - action is required now," Vanuatu's President Nikenike Vurobaravu told the UN General Assembly.

Solomon Islands leader Manasseh Sogavare on Friday told the United Nations his South Pacific country remains neutral despite growing ties with China, charging that he has been "vilified" for the relationship with Beijing.

"We will not align ourselves with any external powers or security architecture that targets our or any other sovereign country or threatens regional or international peace," the prime minister told the UN General Assembly.

"Solomon Islands will not be coerced into choosing sides."

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned the United Nations on Friday that climate disasters will not remain confined to his country, in the wake of floods that have devastated the South Asian giant.

"What happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan," he said in his first address to the General Assembly, adding that life had "changed forever."

Sharif drew attention to the injustice inherent in the crisis, with his country at "ground zero" of climate change but responsible for less than one percent of carbon emissions.  

"Why are my people paying the price of such high global warming through no fault of their own? Nature has unleashed her fury on Pakistan without looking at our carbon footprint, which is next to nothing," he said.

"It is therefore entirely reasonable to expect some approximation of justice for this loss and damage, not to mention building back better with resilience," he said, adding his voice to growing calls among developing countries for financial compensation from rich polluters.

Pakistan has been lashed by unprecedented monsoon downpours flooding a third of the country -- an area the size of the United Kingdom -- and killing nearly 1,600 people, according to the latest government figures.

More than seven million people have been displaced, many living in makeshift tents without protection from mosquitoes, and often with little access to clean drinking water or washing facilities.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council at UNGA: 

Michel said that the Kremlin is leading a "hybrid war". He added that the war combines armed violence with poisonous lies. The security of Russia supposedly for years has "been threatened by the West". Michel said that is "false". 

The Pacific nation of Vanuatu called for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty at the UN General Assembly on Friday, adding to an appeal backed by the World Health Organization, the Vatican and NGOs.

"We call for the development of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to phase down coal, oil and gas production in line with 1.5C, and enable a global just transition for every worker, community and nation with fossil fuel dependence," said President Nikenike Vurobaravu.

José Ramos-Horta at UNGA: 

"Abysmal leadership failures in Western and in Developing countries in resolving tensions and differences have resulted in endless wars and death of innocent women and children. Human induced Climate change and unprecedented natural catastrophes are destroying livelihoods of tens of millions across the globe. Globally, we missed an opportunity to resolve the COVID19 conflict through vaccine justice and cooperation rather than vaccine nationalism and competition. 

The people of Myanmar feel abandoned, betrayed, by the so-called international community. They ask, why the difference in treatment, prompt and extremely generous support for Ukrainian civilians and refugees, so much sophisticated military support for Ukraine resistance, and such a mute reaction to the war waged against the people of Myanmar? But they are still fighting on and dying. 

The Myanmar conflict is impacting the security and stability of neighbouring countries. It may escalate."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Chinese foreign ministry said Friday. 

The meeting was the first between the two since the February invasion of Ukraine by Russia -- though they have held two phone calls.

On Friday, the Moscow-held regions of Ukraine are voting on whether to become part of Russia in referendums that Kyiv and its allies have condemned as an unlawful land grab.

Wang told Kuleba that the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected... the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported," the ministry said in a statement. 

The General Debate of the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations will continue on the fourth day. On Friday (September 23), Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta will start the morning session. 

The General Debate of the UNGA, which is scheduled from September 20 to September 26 in New York, is the opportunity for Heads of State and governments to come together at the UN Headquarters and discuss world issues. 

The Russia-Ukraine crisis, global food crisis, and climate change are some of tha main topics, which have dominated the ongoing session. 

The debate will resume on 23 September at 9:00am (New York time).