MOSCOW, July 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia supports the creation of a UN peace-building commission, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday. The commission would help in conflict resolution and promote post-conflict development, Lavrov said after talks with his Irish counterpart, Dermot Ahern, who is also the UN Secretary General's special envoy ahead of the September 2005 summit. Lavrov said that effective conflict and crisis regulation was a key aspect of UN reform.
"The principle of universality should be maintained during discussion of UN reform," Lavrov said, adding that Russia backed Ahern's work as the summit's special envoy.
"During previous talks I expressed support for the work of my counterpart as one of five special envoys for the upcoming summit in New York and promotion of UN reform," Lavrov said.
He added that reforms should cover all aspects of the UN's activities, and that the UN Charter should be strictly observed in applying sanctions and the use of force.
"The UN Charter should be strictly observed in response to ordinary threats and new challenges, including terrorism," Lavrov said.
