The UN Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General, is obligated to maintain a neutral stance on all matters, a principle outlined in the UN Charter that must be strictly observed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized this in an interview with TASS ahead of his participation in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
Lavrov highlighted that previous Secretaries-General played a significant role in shaping the traditions of the UN Secretariat and its relationship with member states. “I would like to mention U Thant, who was a representative of Burma,” Lavrov noted.
Speaking of those he has worked with during his time both in New York and as Foreign Minister, Lavrov recalled Kofi Annan. “He was a close friend. But more importantly, he truly upheld Article 100 of the UN Charter, which states that the Secretariat is an administrative body headed by the Secretary-General and must remain neutral on all matters until member states reach an agreement. Once an agreement is made, the Secretariat implements their decisions and directives,” Lavrov explained.
Lavrov also spoke fondly of his relationship with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who previously served as South Korea’s Foreign Minister. “We knew each other well, exchanged visits, and communicated frequently,” Lavrov shared.
Lavrov further mentioned his familiarity with António Guterres, particularly during Guterres' time as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “He visited Russia and traveled to the North Caucasus, where he did much to inform the international community about the terrorist threats we faced and the efforts we made to combat them,” Lavrov concluded.
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Based on materials from TASS