Lavrov calls on Guterres to abandon politicized initiatives

"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.

Russia expressed its readiness to actively participate in the discussions at the Summit of the Future in 2024 and the work on A Pact for the Future — the summit's final document, the ministry said.

The meeting also saw Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov call on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to launch an arbitration procedure against the United States, according to a readout provided by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"The minister drew the secretary general's attention to the continued violations by the United States of its obligations under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, including refusals to issue visas to diplomats from Russia and other countries to participate in UN activities," the ministry said in a statement regarding the sideline meeting.

Lavrov noted that "the current situation dictates the need for A. Guterres to launch the arbitration procedure against the US as soon as possible, as repeatedly said in the special sessions resolutions of the UN General Assembly," the ministry said.

MNA/PR