Opinion: Iraq War Has Rendered UN Security Council Irrelevant

The UN Security Council has been humiliated by the war in Iraq, announced Yuri Solonin, Saint Petersburg leader of the United Russia party, who spoke today at a meeting of the Civil Debates club, which took place at Rosbalt news agency. He said that the limitations of UN authority had been clearly demonstrated and that no changes within the UN could reverse the current crisis within this international organisation.

Mr Solonin believes the US will continue to dictate international affairs. None the less, the invasion of Iraq is bound to increase anti-American feelings. He also stressed that we are witnessing the decline of US influence as anti-Americanism is already acquiring a doctrinal and not simply emotional quality.