MOSCOW, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday called on the international community to unite around the United Nations to secure peace in the world, the Kremlin press service reported.
"Russia and its partners as the permanent members of the UN Security Council stand for the central role of the United Nations in international affairs," Putin said during talks with visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Putin praised Ban for his efforts to maintain the UN role. He said global problems required "highly attentive professional approach, respect to the basic norms of the international law," adding there is no other organization in the world with such a universal role.
The UN chief arrived in Russia on Thursday. Before his talks with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Ban also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who highlighted Moscow's objections to some decision-making process bypassing the UN Chapter and the international laws.
Lavrov also urged the international community to create a " positive, uniting agenda" in the frames of multilateral diplomacy based on UN principals.
In turn, Ban hailed Russia for its efforts to strengthen the UN 's role, as well as Moscow's active position in the UN Security Council over global peace and development.
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