The United States systematically violates its obligations as a host, therefore, once and for all, the visa problems of diplomats can only be solved by moving the UN headquarters to another country, Anton Morozov, member of the Russian State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, is sure.
The UN General Assembly Committee on Legal Affairs adopted a resolution calling on the United States to influence the prompt issuance of visas to diplomats, and also recommended the lifting of restrictions on their trips. The text of the document notes the concern of the General Assembly in connection with the refusal of American visas to “certain representatives of certain Member States”. In December, the UN resolution will be considered by the UN General Assembly.
Such proposals are long overdue and even overripe. The actions of the American authorities in relation to the diplomats of some countries do not fit into any UN charters and diplomatic decency framework. In Washington, even in relation to diplomats, they act on the principle: I want to – let it go, I don’t want to – I don’t let it go.
Resolutions of the UN General Assembly are non-binding character in contrast to the UN Security Council. Even if the General Assembly adopts a new resolution, then the Americans will most likely not implement it. I am convinced that more radical decisions need to be made and applications from other states to host the UN headquarters should be considered. The United States systematically violates its obligations as a host, therefore, once and for all, the visa problems of diplomats can be solved only this way.
This attitude does not only apply to Russian diplomats; the United States is also trying to blackmail other countries by consent or refusal to issue visas. But why on earth do they do this? Any UN member state has the right to send a delegation to the next session in the composition and quantity that it considers necessary. The task of the United States as a host country is simply to ensure the visit of this delegation, that is, to issue the necessary visas, provide diplomatic immunity, accept the board of the head of the delegation at the airport, and so on, ”Anton Morozov explains.
The relocation of the UN headquarters would be convenient both logistically and politically. The Russian delegation has the right to travel to Europe without visas at all, diplomatic passports are enough, so the problem with visa issuance will not arise in principle.