By RIA Novosti
New York : Russia passed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council on to South Africa on Tuesday, ending its one-month chair of the organization’s most powerful body.
Russia took over the presidency of the 15-member-nation panel on March 1. The Presidency of the Security Council is rotated on an alphabetical basis.
During Russia’s presidency Kosovo, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran and international terrorism became priority issues at the UN Security Council.
Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said the during the country’s presidency a total of 16 official sessions, 13 consultative meetings were held and five resolutions adopted, including the latest on Iran.
The UN Security Council agreed to impose a third round of economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, but did not sanction the use of force against Tehran.
Churkin slammed a recent decision by the U.S. administration to supply arms to Kosovo calling it a mistake and demonstrating disregard for international law. Churkin also called the U.S. decision “a political provocation in a delicate situation.”
The diplomat also expressed disappointment that the Council failed to adopt a resolution denouncing the escalation of violence in the Middle East, namely a devastating offensive by Israeli troops on the Gaza Strip in early March, which saw 120 Palestinians killed. The attack by Israel was in response to militant rocket attacks from Gaza on Israeli border towns.
Russia’s envoy hopes that a Middle East peace conference, which Moscow is proposing to hold will assist the UN Security Council to play a more significant role in settling the conflict in the region.
“The meeting in Moscow is part of joint efforts of the quartet of Mideast mediators (Russia, the United States, the EU and the UN),” Churkin said.