Lavrov calls on Guterres to abandon politicized initiatives

MNA :
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to prevent drawing representatives of the UN structures into politicized initiatives on Ukraine.

“The attention was drawn to the UN secretary general’s assurances to refrain from participating in initiatives that do not involve all parties,” the Russian Ministry said in a statement regarding a meeting between Guterres and Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The release added that the minister “also pointed to the inadmissibility of using ‘double standards’ in UN statistical and other documents with regard to different territories.”

During the talks, Lavrov and Guterres focused on pressing international issues, as well as various aspects of Russia-UN cooperation.

The Russian minister emphasized the need for the UN leadership and all its employees to adhere to the principles of impartiality, the statement said, Sputnik reported.

The foreign minister also urged the UN secretary-general to prevent representatives of UN structures from being drawn into politicized initiatives in the context of the Ukraine conflict.

Lavrov and Guterres further discussed the topic of reforming the UN to adapt it to realities, the ministry said, adding that the Russian minister noted the importance of the opinions of all UN member states in carrying out reforms and preserving the intergovernmental nature of the organization, as well as observing the “division of labor” between its main bodies.