Russia to insist on UNSC debate on Russian-Chinese N. Korea initiative - Nebenzya
NEW YORK (UN). Sept 12 (Interfax) - Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya has called underestimating a Russian-Chinese initiative on settling the situation on the Korean Peninsula a "big mistake", adding that Russia will insist on this proposal being put up for debate at the UN Security Council.
"Russia [...] is convinced that it is exclusively political methods, not any further new sanctions, that can help avert the deepening threat from the Korean Peninsula. This was the approach suggested by Russia and China, which put forth in their July 4 joint statement a roadmap outlining a step-by-step process toward settlement, starting with steps to de-escalate [the situation] and reciprocally ease tensions to be followed by confidence building measures and the creation of conditions to resume the negotiating process," Nebenzya said at the UN Security Council following the adoption of the latest resolution on North Korea.
Russia "believes that it is a big mistake to underestimate this Russian-Chinese initiative," he said.
"It remains on the UNSC table, and we will insist on it being put up for debate," the high-ranking Russian diplomat said.
This Russian-Chinese approach is a "reasonable and realistic alternative to the ultimatum-based logic of sanctions that has proven to be untenable more than once," Nebenzya said.