OREANDA-NEWS. Alexander Yakovenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on June 13 held consultations on UN problems at the Foreign Ministry of Japan, in whose framework conversations with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka, Deputy Vice-Minister Chikao Kawai, Director General for Global Issues at the Foreign Ministry Koji Tsuruoka, and Foreign Policy Bureau Deputy Director General Yoshitaka Akimoto took place.

In the course of the consultations a detailed exchange of views on UN reform processes took place. The situation surrounding Kosovo and the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement process, conditions in Afghanistan and nonproliferation issues in context of the Iranian nuclear program and the Korean Peninsula nuclear problem were discussed. Climate change and world food crisis problems also were examined.

Both sides noted the importance of building on international interaction and strengthening the UN’s central role in world affairs in the interests of resolving problem situations and achieving security and sustainable stability in the world.

There was discussed the full range of issues relating to the activities of the UN Human Rights Council. The Japanese representatives drew attention to the concept of “human security” being advocated by them. It was noted on the Russian side that this concept needed further discussion, primarily, through the prism of development and, in particular, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It was emphasized that for most countries it is important that this initiative should not be treated as a pretext for undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Alexander Yakovenko visited United Nations University, whose headquarters is in Tokyo. Prospects for the arrangement of cooperation with Russia’s tertiary education institutions and scientific research centers were discussed.