Russia slams US for not granting visa to diplomat for UN meeting

Russia accuses the United States of failing to honor commitments under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement. Russia says Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov should have represented the country at a UN Security Council meeting in New York. Russia states that despite attempts to obtain a visa, the visa was not granted. Russia argues the agreement requires the United States to issue visas to foreign diplomats attending UN functions without charge and as promptly as possible. Russia also frames the decision as disrespect toward China’s Security Council presidency in May. The US Department of State did not provide immediate comment. The dispute occurs amid efforts to reduce tensions while sanctions remain in place.

"Russia has slammed the United States for failing to grant a visa to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, calling the decision a breach of Washington's obligations. Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council on Tuesday that the country should have been represented by Alimov who oversees matters related to the United Nations at the meeting. However, despite all of our attempts to persuade the US side to issue a visa to him, that visa was ultimately not granted, Nebenzia said."

"The 1947 agreement that established the international body's headquarters in New York requires the US to issue visas to foreign diplomats looking to attend UN functions without charge and as promptly as possible. Nebenzia said not granting a visa to Alimov is a violation of that treaty and also a slight to Beijing, which is chairing the Security Council in May. We view this not just as a breach by Washington of its obligations under United Nations Headquarters Agreement, according to which access to United Nations needs to be provided for all officials and member states, barring none, but we also view this as an egregious instance of disrespect for the Chinese presidency of the Security Council, he said."

"The US Department of State did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera's request for comment. The visa controversy comes at a time of receding tensions between Washington and Moscow as US President Donald Trump pushes to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has been regularly speaking with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. But Washington has continued to enforce sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine invasion."

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