The effectiveness of the United Nations depends on interaction between the organization’s members, Russia’s ambassador to the UN said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“Now, some 70 years after [the UN foundation], the UN is often criticized that its actions are not always effective or timely,” Vitaly Churkin said on the occasion of UN Day, celebrated on October 24, which marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.

“The organization is successful and effective exactly as much as effective and productive the interaction between its member states is,” he said.

The UN currently has 193 member states.

Churkin also said that the principles underlying the UN Charter “remain the cornerstone of the modern world order.”

“The universal nature of the UN, which embraces various spheres of humankind’s vital activity and coexistence of nations, and which guarantees an equal status to all states regardless of their size and might, is indisputable,” he said.

Churkin dismissed claims that the UN Security Council was ineffective regarding the conflict settlement in Syria.

The Syrian conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, according to various Syrian opposition groups. The UN puts the death toll at 20,000-30,000 people.

The West is pushing for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s ouster while Russia and China are trying to prevent outside interference in Syria, saying that the Assad regime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed. Veto-wielding Moscow and Beijing have three times blocked sanctions resolutions on Syria.

“Decisions that would answer improper positions of a number of parties have not been made. As soon as we manage to find real common denominators and landmarks, a right joint solution will emerge,” Churkin said.