The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly came to the support of Ukraine, with 100 votes in favor and only 11 against, a resolution that labels Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula as illegal.
The United
Nations General Assembly, consisting of 193 member states, met on March 27 to
discuss the crisis between Ukraine and Russia. Another 58 nations abstained.
The vote is
hailed as overwhelming international support for Ukraine’s territorial
integrity and security.
European
Union representatives stressed that the 28-nation bloc remains committed to the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and doesn’t recognize the
Kremlin-orchestrated referendum on March 16, in which Russia and its leader in
Crimea, Prime Minister Serhiy Aksyonov, claimed that 96 percent voted in favor
of seceding from Ukraine and entering Russia.
The
resolution also strongly condemns the use of violence towards Ukraine and
“firmly believes there is no place for the use of force.”
Brazil
representative urged the crises to be solved peacefully with Russia and Ukraine
in diplomatic talks.
The Canadian
representative claimed that Russian intervention poses a great threat to
international security and peace. Japan agreed with the draft resolution and
pledged to support Ukraine.
To the
contrary, Vitaly Churkin, the Russian representative, said that Russia is supporting
Crimean citizens in their will to join the Russian Federation. As usual, Russia called supporters of the new
Ukrainian government fascists, anti-Semites and “Banderites,” followers of
Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera (1909-1959), considered in Russia
as a Nazi sympathizer.
Turkey,
Georgia and Iceland condemned the violation of Ukraine’s territory and
supported Russia’s isolation on the issue.
General
Assembly resolutions have no legally binding force for governments, but represent
world public opinion on the issue.
