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The UN Security Council
Vitaly Churkin
, Permanent Representative to the UN: As a
general rule, the Security Council meets twice a day, and this is
a very intensive work. Concrete results are not always achieved.
But in June, when we held the presidency at the Security Council,
indeed an attempt was made to review all crisis points in the
world.
During these eight years, the intensity of the Security Council's
work has increased considerably. Some technical innovations
have appeared. Say, six years ago, video conferencing began to
be used. That is to say, today a person does not need to be physically present at a session in order to make
a statement. Here is an example. During our presidency, the secretary general's special representative in
Afghanistan was unable to come to New York. So he simply spoke in a video conference regime. Such
things simplify the work and at the same time make it more intensive.
It seems to me that we, especially the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, have managed
to ensure that the Security Council itself works more effectively, so that its consultative sessions become
more businesslike.
Do clashes happen very often? Yes, quite often. Of course, on different positions. There are issues, say, on
Syria, on chemical weapons. Every month we heard reports on what was going on in respect to the de-
struction of chemical weapons.
So this is the kind of work that is going on, where all contradictions and crises that exist in the world are
boiling, as it were, in the UN Security Council's "cauldron", and sometimes it becomes possible to make
something constructive and positive out of that. And sometimes, unfortunately, not.
Russia, the EU, NATO
Alexander Grushko
, Permanent Representative to NATO: I
believe that every career diplomat looks forward to such impor-
tant events, which take place once every two years. First of all,
it is a unique opportunity to receive guidelines from the presi-
dent, hear representatives and heads of other agencies, and get
a better understanding of our political interests at a concrete
historical stretch. Of course, it is a diplomatic club, a unique op-
portunity to meet with colleagues, share opinions and discuss
pressing issues.
Today, international relations are going through a very important stage. I believe that we have entered a
new phase of confrontation. Judging by the Brussels platform, elements of resistance to Russia's growing
role were visible everywhere.
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