Nebenzya: Russia rejects attempts to return to the UN Security Council’s closed discussions on the Syrian chemical file

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya has stressed that his country will reject attempts to return to the UN Security Council’s closed discussions on the Syrian chemical file.

Interviewed by Tass news agency, Nebenzya said that “the United Kingdom, as President of the UN Security Council in February, proposes a return to discussing this issue behind closed doors, which means without videotaping and also without the participation of Syria’s representative. But we will reject this.”

However, Nebenzya added, “with our initiative, these sessions became open and we don’t understand why they should be hidden  from the public.” He affirmed that “the international community must be aware of what is going on about the chemical file in Syria, so we will insist that the meeting be open.”

 On the other hand, Nebenzya called on the new US administration to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiative for holding the “five-year summit” of the Security Council.

“A new American administration has come to power and it must respond to this initiative, which is still on the table and is important for direct talks,” he added.

Last June, Putin suggested organizing a meeting for the leaders of the permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, the United States, China, France and Britain) to discuss ways to “protect peace and preserve civilization”.  The United Nations announced that it welcomes this initiative.

 Hamda Mustafa