Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin and the heads of diplomatic missions to the UN of the member states of the Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations' Charter discussed the Middle East settlement and illegal unilateral sanctions. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement published Friday on the department's website.
"The focus was traditionally on issues of priority importance to members of the group. These included illegal unilateral restrictive measures that have a detrimental effect on development and human rights, as well as relations with the host state of the UN headquarters that violate its relevant obligations. During the meeting the participants paid special attention to the Middle East settlement and the challenges of overcoming conflicts in Africa," noted the diplomatic mission.
The foreign ministry stressed that the meeting participants noted with satisfaction the beginning of full-fledged interaction in the format of the Group in Geneva, as well as in Brussels. "The sides discussed issues of improving the effectiveness of the informal interstate association and its activities at various international platforms," the ministry added.
The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter includes Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, DPRK, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Nicaragua, Palestine, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Based on materials from TASS