UNITED NATIONS (New York). Jan 11 (Interfax) - The outgoing Administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has been using the UN Security Council's platform to search for culprits behind its failures in foreign and domestic policy amongst other purposes, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said.
"The outgoing Obama Administration has been desperately searching for culprits behind its failures both in foreign and domestic policy. It is a pity that the UN Security Council's platform is being used to foster this hopeless cause," he said at a UN Security Council meeting dedicated to the prevention of conflicts and peacekeeping.
The United States "has been selectively quoting history," the envoy said.
"Speaking of sovereignty, one has to mention that its gross violation by the United States has been the cause of the severest situation in a whole number of regions which we have to deal with," Churkin said.
"The U.S. invasion of Iraq not only destabilized the Middle East but also generated ISIL [banned in Russia], while a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty led to the spreading of the terrorist threat," he said.
Churkin referred to Libya, South Sudan and Ukraine in the same context. "The influx of refugees from Syria and Libya in Europe is a direct consequence of the adventurist policy of Washington. [...] The Ukraine crisis would not have happened if the United States and its allies had not dictated Kyiv which agreements it should sign and when," the Russian diplomat said.
Churkin lauded the statement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that 2017 should become the year of peace.