Russian, New Zealand’s top diplomats discuss Security Council’s crucial issues

MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov and his counterpart from New Zealand, Murray McCully, held a phone discussion on Monday about issues on the UN Security Council’s agenda, Russia’s Foreign Ministry reported. "(They) discussed a number of pressing international issues on the agenda of the UN Security Council," the ministry said. The discussion was initiated by New Zealand. New Zealand earlier suggested that the UN Security Council consider its draft resolution on Syria after it had failed to adopt first the French and then the Russian proposals aimed at resolving the situation near Aleppo on October 8. The draft resolution drawn up by New Zealand allows for the gunmen’s withdrawal from Eastern Aleppo in accordance with the initiative by UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. It also demands the parties to the conflict "immediately and completely stop all attacks that can lead to loss of life or injuries or damage civilian objects." The document emphasizes that this particularly concerns airstrikes on Aleppo. The document also stipulates regular 48-hour pauses in hostilities for humanitarian aid delivery. The first such truce, according to the draft resolution, should come into force within 24 hours after a decision on it is passed. The draft resolution also points to the need for separating opposition units from terrorist groups that are on the relevant UN Security Council lists. Read more