Russia-Ukraine War: Countries divided on the resolution to be approved by the UN on the conflict

France and Mexico pressure members of the United Nations to approve mentioning the Russian invasion in a resolution on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine. But South Africa has positioned itself against it, saying that inserting political issues could hinder consensus to help the civilian population.

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The resolution drafted jointly by France and Mexico is scheduled to be voted on this week at the UN General Assembly. The proposal reiterates the world body’s demand made on March 2 for Russia to end its military offensive in Ukraine and withdraw all its troops. It also calls for the protection of all civilians and the infrastructure essential to their survival.

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The draft, which The Associated Press had access to on Monday, says that the “serious humanitarian consequences” of Russian aggression in Ukraine “are of a magnitude that the international community has not seen in Europe in several decades.” Condemns the air and artillery attacks by Russian forces and the siege of densely populated cities, in particular the port of Mariupol in southern Ukraine.

A draft resolution prepared by South Africa was circulated on the same Monday and the AP also obtained access to the document, which makes no mention of Russia. Instead, it calls for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” as a first step to mitigate the humanitarian situation, refers to “all parties” and encourages “political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and other peaceful means with the objective to achieve a lasting peace.

The South African resolution proposal would recognize “the autonomy of humanitarian objectives with respect to political, economic, military or other objectives that any of the parties may have in the areas where humanitarian action is implemented”. It would also require the protection of civilians and the infrastructure essential to their survival and “critical civilian infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of essential services in the armed conflict.”

The General Assembly is scheduled to meet and vote Wednesday on the France-Mexico resolution at Ukraine’s request, assembly spokeswoman Paulina Kubiak said Monday.

France and Mexico decided to bring the humanitarian resolution to the General Assembly after negotiating a similar proposal that mentioned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for two weeks in the Security Council, where Russia made it clear it would veto the measure.

Unlike the Security Council, in the General Assembly there are no vetoes. But the resolutions in the Assembly, made up of 193 nations, are not binding, as are those of the Security Council, although they do reflect the opinion of the international community.

Supporters of the Franco-Mexican resolution hope to achieve a vote similar to that of the General Assembly resolution of March 2, which demanded an immediate cessation of Russian military actions and the withdrawal of all its troops. That vote was 141-5, with 35 abstentions, and was described by its supporters as an example of Russia’s isolation.

South Africa was one of 35 countries that abstained from voting on the resolution.

Explaining the context of its proposal on Monday, South Africa said the measure should express concern about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and call on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools and water facilities. He also noted that “political issues that may lead member states not to agree on a text should be addressed elsewhere.”

The proposal by France and Mexico begins by reiterating the first words of the Charter of the United Nations and would reaffirm the determination of the General Assembly to “save subsequent generations from the scourge of war.”

It would also reiterate Charter obligations that all UN member nations must refrain from the threat or use of force against “the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

Both the proposal by Mexico and France, as well as that of South Africa, would reaffirm the Assembly’s commitment to “the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

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Source: Elcomercio

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