EVSTIGNEEVA: SCHMIDT'S PARTICIPATION AT THE SESSION MEANINGLESS

NEW YORK, MAY 12 /SRNA/ - Russia does not agree with Christian Schmidt's presence at today's UN Security Council session on the situation in BiH because his participation as a German citizen is meaningless, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Anna Evstigneeva said.

Speaking at the session on BiH in New York, she stressed that the rule applying to high representatives cannot apply to Schmidt because, according to her, he is not a high representative and did not request special permission to address the Council. "His report is merely the opinion of a German citizen. Therefore, the presentation of such a report is meaningless", Evstigneeva said. She emphasized that Schmidt was not appointed high representative by the UN Security Council. Chairing the session, Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the UN Sun Lei said that the objection raised by the Mission of the Russian Federation had been entered into the official record of today's meeting.