Russia Snubs US on 2016 Nuclear Summit: Will Not Attend

Local Editor

Russia has confirmed it will not attend the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, a gathering championed by US President Barack Obama, accusing Washington of seeking to play first fiddle on matters of nuclear safety.

Moscow claimed the organizers wanted to accord special rights to the US along with South Korea and the Netherlands, which hosted previous summits, while discriminating other participants.

The Russian foreign ministry said: "We shared with our American colleagues our doubts regarding the added value of a forum that is planned to be held in the United States in 2016."

"We believe it is unacceptable to create a precedent of such outside interference into the work of international organizations," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

It took issue with the fact that the final documents of the Washington summit would set the agenda for international organizations including the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Interpol.

"Washington is trying to assume the role of the main and privileged 'player' in this field," the foreign ministry further said, adding that Russia would instead focus on its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Furthermore, the foreign ministry said Washington had been informed of Russia's decision to withdraw from the summit in mid-October.

Moscow is locked in a confrontation with the West over the crisis in Ukraine, with Washington and Brussels introducing several rounds of sanctions against Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has remained defiant in the face of the growing diplomatic isolation, proclaiming Russia's moral superiority and seeking to ramp up ties with other countries.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team