Latvian ambassador to the UN calls Russia's call to halt military operations in the Middle East cynical

RIGA - Latvian Ambassador to the UN Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes on Wednesday called Russia's draft resolution, which called on all parties to cease military operations in the Middle East, cynical, according to information on the UN website.

She pointed out that Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has itself been attacking the population and civilian infrastructure of the sovereign state of Ukraine for years. Pavluta-Deslandes also added that Iran is currently attacking its neighbors with the same weapons it has supplied to Russia.

The draft resolution called on all parties to immediately cease military operations and refrain from further escalation in the Middle East and beyond, condemning attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and emphasizing the obligations of all parties under international law, including international humanitarian law.

On March 11, the UN Security Council rejected the draft resolution proposed by Russia, despite support from China, Pakistan, Russia, and Somalia. Latvia and the US voted against it, while nine countries abstained: Bahrain, Colombia, Congo, Denmark, France, Greece, Liberia, Panama, and the United Kingdom.