Russia accuses US of bringing chaos to West Asia

Feb 24
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of plunging the West Asia into chaos and fuelling the rise of extremists because of its drive to dominate the world. Lavrov levelled the fierce criticism of Washington’s policies at a special UN Security Council debate on maintaining international peace and security. The Russian foreign minister cited the US-led air strikes in Syria, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 2011 military intervention in Libya as examples of violations of the fundamental principles of the United Nations. Lavrov told the 15-member council that all of this is the result of attempts to dominate global affairs, to rule over all, everywhere, to use military force unilaterally to push one’s interests.
He said, these have plunged the West Asia and North Africa into instability and chaos, and to a large extent have created a breeding ground in which extremists thrive. The foreign minister also spoke of unsavoury methods being used such as regime change and open support for the unconstitutional state coup in Ukraine a year ago. Russia has repeatedly accused the United States and its western allies of having engineered the ouster of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych, which triggered the separatist upheaval in Crimea and east Ukraine. Lavrov spoke to the council as Ukraine accused pro-Russia rebels of massing forces near the port city of Mariupol despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.