UNITED NATIONS:Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed sadness on Monday for the United States' decision to remove 12 Russian UN staff members. The United States made its choice in the midst of Russian military actions in Ukraine.
"I'd want to alert you to yet another hostile act by the host country, this time directed against the Russian embassy. We were just notified, approximately an hour ago, that 12 members of the Russian mission's staff are being expelled "According to sources, Nebenzia said this at the start of a Security Council meeting that he was chairing.
According to Nebenzia, the decision is "yet another blatant violation" of the UN Headquarters agreement signed by the US as the host country, as well as the Vienna Conventions.
"We are constantly reminded of the importance of diplomacy and diplomatic solutions. At the same time, our ability to engage in this type of action is being limited "he said. "This is a decision that we greatly regret. And we'll see how things play out in the aftermath of this decision." According to Richard Mills, the US deputy permanent representative to the UN, the Russian mission's 12 staff members were forced to leave because they engaged in "actions that were not in compliance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats."
"They've been asked to leave this country so they don't endanger the host country's national security," Mills said.
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