Russia was again isolated this Thursday in the UN General Assemblywhere he worked to prevent the passage of a resolution, the second in less than a month, calling for an “immediate cessation” of Russian hostilities in Ukraine and an end to attacks on civilians.
With 140 votes in favor, 5 against and 38 abstentions, the international community approved this new resolution presented by Ukraine, and promoted by Mexico and France, on the “humanitarian consequences of the Russian aggression”, which in less than a month caused the displacement of 10 million people, 3.5 million of whom are refugees abroad. Half children.
The resolution “calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities by Russia against Ukraine, in particular attacks against civilians and civilian targets”, as well as the “protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, journalists and people in vulnerable situations, such as women and children”.
In addition to condemning “all violations of international humanitarian law,” the 4-page text “reiterates” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ call for Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw” all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.
This is the second consecutive defeat suffered by Russia in the UN, after the day before a resolution presented by Moscow, also on the humanitarian situation, was rejected in the Security Council, which only obtained the votes in favor of the Chinese and Russian representatives. , while the remaining 13 members abstained.
The resolution on the humanitarian situation complements that of March 2, which with the favorable vote of 141 countries (35 abstentions and 5 votes against) condemned the Russian invasion.
As at that time, Russia again received support from Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria.
On their side, countries such as China, Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Iran are some of those that abstained in this vote (as in the first), in which 183 UN members participated. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico voted in favor.
Venezuela was unable to vote as it had lost the right due to non-payment of its contributions.
However, unlike the Security Council, the resolutions of the Assembly are not binding.
“This is a balanced text, which faithfully reflects the disastrous situation on the ground,” said France’s ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, at the end of the vote on behalf of the European Union.
“Remember the urgency of putting an end to the humanitarian catastrophe and respecting international law,” he added.
Politicization
Amid minor chaos, delegates rejected a motion to vote on a second resolution on the humanitarian situation, proposed by South Africa and co-sponsored by China, after opposition from the Ukrainian ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya.
“It was never the product of consultations with Ukraine or regional consultations,” unlike the text that France and Mexico had been preparing for three weeks, protested Kyslytsya, who accused Russia of being behind this South African initiative to “undermine” the authority of the assembly.
The text did not mention Russia, which has always argued that this “politicizes” the conflict. His detractors, meanwhile, consider that not mentioning Russia is “putting the aggressor and the victim on the same level.”
The appeal was rejected by 67 votes against, 50 in favor and 36 abstentions.
The South African representative argued that “there are a few powerful countries that have been part of this conflict in the form of proxy wars in other countries”, from which “Africa has suffered its destructive results”, she said.
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“Today we have remained united,” congratulated the US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, at the end of the vote. “Russia tried and failed in the Security Council and in partnership with other countries tried in the General Assembly to undermine Ukraine,” she said.
“As President (Joe) Biden has made clear, Vladimir Putin will not see a victory in Ukraine. And we have seen today that he will not see victory in New York either,” he added.
Many countries that have passed through the United Nations rostrum since Wednesday in this 11th special session of the General Assembly have warned of the consequences that the conflict is having for developing countries, which were just beginning to raise their heads from the disastrous consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the declaration approved this Thursday, the countries also express their “concern” about the “increase in food insecurity.”