Russia FM takes aim at US in address to UN

WASHINGTON

Russia accused the United States of breaching UN resolutions on Friday, citing the scrapped Iran nuclear deal, Palestine and the Libyan war.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said attacks on international laws reached alarming levels as he took aim at Washington for withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal.

"The U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA, endorsed by United Nations resolution 2231, repudiated its obligations and started demanding from others to play by American rules and to sabotage its implementation," Lavrov told the UN General Assembly.

U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out in May 2018 of the nuclear pact world powers struck with Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions.

Lavrov said Washington is also eroding UN resolutions on the international legal framework of the Middle East peace process.

"It suggested waiting for some sort of 'Deal of the Century', meanwhile it is taking unilateral decisions on Jerusalem and the Golan Heights," he said, referring to Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Israel's annexation of Golan Heights.

The two-state solution is "essential for satisfying legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people and providing security for Israel and the region," he said, but warned the long-waited solution is "in danger" with the U.S. moves.

Turning to violence in Libya, the oil-rich country that has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, Lavrov said NATO members were bombing the country and "blatantly violating UN resolutions."

NATO members "were also guided by the logic of their rules based order; it resulted in destruction of Libyan statehood,” he said.

He also said African countries have been affected the most by "NATO's adventure" and accuses some nations of protecting terrorists and even working with them "as that is happening in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria."