Zakharova: Westerners are doing everything to block the activities of the CSTO, SCO and CIS

During her speech and answers to questions, Maria Zakharova touched upon the most important issues of Russian international politics and the world agenda, and also answered questions from The Moscow Post.

The first question of our publication concerned the statement of Vasily Nebenzi about the importance of debates on UN cooperation with the CSTO, CIS and SCO. According to him, these regional organizations "do not always receive proper coverage at the UN site". What is the reason for this?

Well, first of all, there's some good news. On July 19, New York will host an open debate on cooperation between the CIS, CSTO and SCO with the UN.

According to Zakharova, the event will be one of the central events of the Russian presidency of the UN Security Council. It will be chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Vershinin.

Within the framework of these organizations, systematic work is underway to strengthen capacity in various areas, practical measures are being carried out on a regular basis.

In particular, we see, continues Maria Zakharova, good prospects for the consolidation of coordination between the United Nations and the CSTO structures on regional issues with an emphasis on Afghanistan, as well as the involvement of the CSTO in UN peacekeeping.

In addition, out of good news from the CIS, the UN-General Assembly adopts a resolution on cooperation between the two organizations every two years. The document notes the importance of strengthening mutual coordination, encourages the development of ties between the specialized agencies of the UN and the CIS.

This year, Russia, as the presiding party in the commonwealth, also joined the draft resolution.

As for the activities of the SCO, it is highly appreciated by the leadership of the UN secretariat during the SCO summit held in Astana on July 3-4, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted the organization's potential to ensure peace and stability and spoke in favor of further tightening its ties with the United Nations.

She stressed that there are prospects, but there is also a problem. Despite the fact that they should not have appeared, because the CSTO, CIS and SCO are key organizations in the Eurasian space that are responsible for maintaining regional peace and security.

Against this background, the collective West is simply not ready to recognize their contribution and do everything to avoid mentioning them, their contacts with the organization.

"I mean the mention in the UN documents. So, there is a concrete example so that you understand what we are talking about since 2018, we are not able to agree on a statement by the Security Council for the press on the activities of the UN regional center for preventive diplomacy for Central Asia. Why?, - continues Maria Vladimirovna - "Well, as you understand, all this is literally unnecessary for Westerners".

According to Zakharova, the Westerners are doing everything to block such a statement of an obvious fact. In the projects presented by the Russian side, this statement notes all kinds of activities of the UN regional center for preventive diplomacy for the center of interaction with the CIS, CSTO and SCO.

However, it is Western figures who are in the Security Council who oppose the mention of this cooperation. Despite its constructive role in the prevention of conflicts, the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, this despite the fact that maintaining contacts with organizations in the region is one of the key tasks of the UN regional center for preventive diplomacy for Central Asia.

"This is absurd. But again, not the first, not the last. Obviously, such a politicized position is dictated by a reluctance to recognize realities. Well, on the other hand, there is nothing new in this either, "Maria Vladimirovna stated.

The second question from The Moscow Post journalist was whether the Russian Foreign Ministry or other Russian departments are recording and processing alternative estimates of victims in the Gaza Strip. Among the civilian population and employees of international organizations, including those associated with the UN? What figures of killed and wounded in the Gaza Strip officially adhere to your ministry?

You know, we proceed from the data on the victims of the Israeli conflict, which represent the specialized agency of the United Nations.

Russia also takes into account the data of the relevant departments of Israel and Palestine, which record the number of dead, wounded, missing during the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip.

"We take these figures into account, but we have no reason not to trust the UN agency in this regard", concluded Maria Zakharova.