United Nations: The United Nations’ peacekeeping activity should continue developing despite the restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva said.
“Despite the unprecedented circumstances caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, it is important that UN peacekeeping continues to steadily develop in the right direction. To this end, respect for sovereignty of the host states, compliance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, as well as the basic principles of peacekeeping – consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force, except for the cases of self-defense and protection of the mandate, remain unshakable,” Evstigneeva told the session of the UN General Assembly’s Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.
Despite the online format of informal talks, which complicates the discussion of sensitive issues, it is necessary to keep a constructive stance for all states towards developing single approaches to peacekeeping, Evstigneeva said. She also expressed condolences to the families of all those peacekeepers, who died when fulfilling their duty, and drew attention to the mounting threats to peacekeepers’ security of late.
