Day 402 (1 April 2023)
One might think that the headlines stating that Russia will take the presidency of of the UN Security Council on 1 April 2023 is a joke, but it is not. The UN has no means to remove a permanent member of the Security Council, even one that is waging war upon a sovereign state. That is what makes the UN a joke itself, for how can anyone take it seriously when they permit a country that has essentially started World War III to preside over the UN Security Council, and where the leader of the country has a warrant out for his arrest by the International Criminal Court? In years to come, people will look back and wonder why such foolishness was permitted on an international level. Perhaps it is through poor leadership and fear, and that is why career politicians are a poor choice as they only care about their future. The UN as it stands has little credibility when it can’t even throw out a terrorist state or remove what power it has within the UN.
Yesterday, the Russian army killed another Ukrainian child – a five month, old boy, Danylo. And at the same time, Russia presides over the UN Security Council. It is difficult to imagine anything that proves the complete bankruptcy of such institutions. (Zelenskyy)
Russia says it will use its rotating presidential term to hold discussions on controlling arms and a ‘new world order’ that they consider is necessary to replace the western ideals. This also gives Russia a platform to disseminate propaganda and disinformation to justify their invasion of Ukraine. One imagines the Kremlin laughing at the UN because they have not been punished, removed, bar a few non-binding resolutions that have opposed their attack on Ukraine.
Russia has also named US as the main security threat to Russia in their latest Foreign Policy Concept as signed by Putin. The belief and claim is that the US is trying to take control of Russia.
Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia registered their opposition of Russia taking the presidency of the UN Security Council.
Isn’t it eloquent that tomorrow, on the anniversary of the Bucha massacre, Russia will take over the presidency of the Security Council? This is shameful, humiliating, and dangerous for the credibility of this body and its effective functioning. (Rein Tammsaar, Estonian UN Permanent Representative)
Ukraine through Zelenskyy has criticised the UN (as many of us have) from not taking action earlier or to find a means to prevent a terrorist state from presiding over the Security Council, and also failing to hold Russia to account for their actions. The UN exists to prevent such conflicts and we can only view the UN in its present state as a failure and unfit for the purpose it was set up for.
Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and no feasible. International legal pathway exist to change that reality. (Karine Jean -Pierre, White House press secretary.)
The Security Council exists to maintain peace, so it is ironic that one member doing exactly the opposite and doesn’t want peace talks either unless all their demands are met. The UN Security Council has 5 permanent members (UK, USA, France, Russia, and China) with 10 non-permanent members. For a Security Council resolution to be passed, there must be 9 votes in favour and all 5 permanent members must also vote in favour. Therefore, while Russian maintains its position not eh Security Council, no resolution to hold them to account will ever be passed and they know that. This is the only mechanism where the UN can vote to permit action to defend a country in terms of war, and is the only UN resolution that would be legally binding.
Slovenia has signed a declaration supporting Ukraine joining NATO. We all know that only NATO membership is the only way to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine ever again. No other security guarantees would be effective.
The Ukrainian Security Service served a notice of suspicion on Petro Lebid of the Moscow Patriarchate Ukrainian Orthodox Church for justifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A search discovered evidence of religious hatred and propaganda denying the Russian aggression on Ukraine.
The Kharkiv agreement signed in 2010 is being reviewed by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, which permitted the Russian Fleet to stay in the Black Sea. It conflicts with the Ukraine constitution that no foreign military bases are permitted on Ukrainian territory, is in contradiction with the framework of national security.
The UN has little OR NO CREDIBILITY if it can't throw out Russia, a terrorist state, or remove it as Presidency of the UN "SECURITY" Council.