The Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council addressed the opening ceremony of the Churkin Moscow International Model UN.
First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov also took part in the event, which was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the UN Association of Russia.
Greetings were sent by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN and the UN Security Council Vasily Nebenzya, and Rector of MGIMO University of the Russian Foreign Ministry Anatoly Torkunov.
Addressing the guests and organisers, Konstantin Kosachev noted that the current global situation was far removed from what was originally envisioned in the UN Charter: “After the end of World War II, humanity had a unique opportunity to agree on the fundamental rules of coexistence.”
According to the senator, present-day calls to abandon the UN and create a more effective alternative lack real prospects.
Konstantin Kosachev emphasised that one of the key factors undermining global stability is the unwillingness of certain states to adhere to the principle of equality, which lies at the heart of the UN Charter.
“This principle is most often disregarded by stronger and more aggressive countries,” he said.
In his view, restoring unconditional respect for the principle of equality in interstate relations, as enshrined in the UN Charter, should be a central objective of Russian diplomacy today.
The Churkin Moscow International Model UN (C-MIMUN) is one of the largest events organised by MGIMO University. During the conference, hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as schoolchildren from across Russia and dozens of other countries, spend a week simulating the work of various UN bodies, including specialised agencies, committees, commissions, programmes, and funds.