Russia has requested 56 entry visas to the United States so that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his entourage can travel to New York for the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations this month, but has not received anything yet.
In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reported by “Archyde.com” today, Friday, Russia’s ambassador to the organization said:
International Vassily Nebenzia said the matter has become “alarming”, given that for the past several months Washington has “constantly refused to grant entry visas” to a number of Russian envoys to attend other United Nations events.
secret records
A US State Department spokesman also said that the United States takes its obligations as the host country of the United Nations seriously, adding that visa records are confidential under US law, so it cannot comment on individual cases.
Under the United Nations’ Headquarters Agreement of 1947, the United States is generally obligated to allow foreign diplomats access to the international organization.
But Washington says it can withhold visas on “security, terrorism and foreign policy” grounds.