Russia distances itself from UN General Assembly agenda items on Ukraine and criminal tribunals

MOSCOW, September 23. /TASS/. Russia has distanced itself from UN General Assembly agenda items concerning Ukraine and criminal tribunals, Foreign Ministry International Organizations Department Director Kirill Logvinov said in an interview with TASS ahead of the participation of the Russian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.

"The Russian delegation has distanced itself from two items that concern the 'temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine' and the 'international residual mechanism for criminal tribunals,'" the diplomat said ahead of the participation of the Russian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.

He explained that the first point "provides a platform for whipping up anti-Russian hysteria based on false information and interferes with the prerogatives of the UN Security Council, the second simply ceased to exist and does not deserve any discussion."

Logvinov said that the agenda was approved on September 11, adding that "most of its provisions are repeated year after year."

The diplomat said that at the opening of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, its Chairman Khalilur Rahman said that work would focus on six areas.

"Maintaining international peace and security in close cooperation with the Security Council and the Secretary-General; eliminating the gaps between reality and expectations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals; supporting the most vulnerable countries in the context of climate change; implementing human rights with a focus on the right to development; ensuring universal access to modern technologies; reforming the global organization," Logvinov listed.