Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Maria Zakharova has criticized United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding his position on the principle of self-determination as applied to Crimea and Donbas.
According to the "Operative Information Center-OMM", Zakharova made these remarks during an interview with RT. The diplomat stated that if the UN Secretary-General acts as a spokesperson for a specific group of countries, he should consider holding a position within those organizations. "If the UN Secretary-General considers himself a spokesperson for this group of countries, perhaps he should go to work and become the Secretary-General of those unions," she remarked.
Zakharova further argued that a "Western minority" believes they alone have the authority to decide which nations possess the right to hold referendums for secession or joining other states. She emphasized that Guterres has not been authorized to issue statements aligned solely with the position of the collective West, adding that as a representative of the global organization, such remarks are inappropriate.
The United Nations Charter emphasizes the principle of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of member states, alongside the right to self-determination. Tensions between Moscow and the UN leadership have intensified recently over differing interpretations of international law regarding regional conflicts and the status of territories. Azerbaijan, as a member of the international community, consistently advocates for the principles of international law and the territorial integrity of states within their internationally recognized borders.
