Russian FM calls out under representation in UN

ANKARA

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday called out the UN Security Council for failing to rightfully represent developing countries.

Addressing the annual Raisina Dialogue in the Indian capital New Delhi, Lavrov said that Moscow believes in “equitable and democratic world order not on the balance of brutal force”.

“I would say that the main and probably the only deficiency of the [UN] Security Council is under representation of the developing countries,” he said, adding that India and Brazil should make it to the list along with an African candidate.

India-China ties

Also speaking at the event, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called for balance with its ties to China, which have historically been frosty.

“India's way is not to be disruptive and it is more of a decider than an abstainer,” said Jaishankar at India’s annual flagship conference on global issues.

“It is important that two countries [China and India] find equilibrium in ties... we have to get along with each other,” he added.

Tensions between US, Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif insisted that his country believed in diplomacy terming the assassination of top Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani as “ignorance and arrogance” of U.S.

“Iran is interested in diplomacy. We are not interested in negotiating with the U.S.,” said Zarif, regretting the downing of a Ukrainian airplane which killed all 176 people on board.

The U.S. early this month killed Soleimani in a missile attack in Baghdad triggering tensions and retaliatory attacks on its bases in Iraq by Iran.

“Now we had this disaster about shooting of a civilian airline, accidental shooting but shooting nevertheless,” he said.

“Why did it happen because there was a crisis… We need to make sure these crises do not happen in future.”

Zarif claimed that slain Soleimani was the “single biggest threat to ISIS[/DAESH]”.

“His killing was now being celebrated by the terror group and U.S. President Donald Trump and [Secretary of State] Mike Pompeo,” he concluded.