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"The threat to international peace and security is a violation of the UN charter. We're very concerned with the situation, with this dangerous escalation. We hope that there will be no point of no return, that the US and their allies will refrain from military action against the sovereign state," Russia's envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told reporters on Thursday.

The "immediate priority" for the UN must be "to avert the danger of war," the diplomat stressed, stating that since Russian troops are deployed in Syria, the conflict can easily spill out of the country in case of any foreign attack. The second most important thing is to ensure the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) specialists, who are expected to embark on their fact-finding mission on Saturday.

"You understand that the danger of escalation is higher than simply Syria, because our military are there on the invitation of the Syrian government, so the situation is very dangerous," Nebenzia said.

Russia advocates an open discussion in the UN on the situation around Syria and threats to "international peace and security." This discussion should be held with the participation of the UN Secretary-General, Nebenzia said. The diplomat did not give any details, but said such talks would be held in "the near future."

"The irresponsible behavior of the US, trampling on the international law and on the sovereignty of the other countries is unworthy of their status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. This status needs the highest degree of responsibility, and not the right to saber rattle, inexistent in the international behavior code," Nebenzia stated.

The whole situation with the threats against Syria, made by the US and its allies, resembles their previous aggressive actions, namely in Iraq and Libya, when the UN was used simply to justify their steps, the Russian envoy added.

"The perpetrators are named before any investigation, and apparently they are to be punished," Nebenzia said. "The US has adopted a largely consumerist approach to the UNSC. The Security Council is needed for them simply to cover the Iraqi test tubes or the Libyan no-flight zone. You are showing us the same virtual empty test tube now, too."

Moscow has information that militants were ordered to launch an offensive in Syria after Washington's possible military action in the country, according to the envoy. He added that terrorists would benefit from feasible attack on Syrian government troops.

"We continue to observe dangerous preparations for an illegal military action against a sovereign state in breach of international law. Not only the use of force, but also a threat to use it violates the UN Charter," Nebenzya said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.