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Washington (AFP) – Argentina and Brazil did not support in the OAS a declaration condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine backed by 21 countries during a special session in which Moscow and Kiev participated as permanent observers.
The 21 countries “strongly condemn the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and call for the immediate withdrawal of the military presence.”
They also denounce “the illegal recognition by Russia” of Donetsk and Lugansk, two separatist territories in eastern Ukraine, because “it represents a violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
The military operation is contrary “to the peaceful resolution of disputes that is enshrined in international law and in the charter of the United Nations,” says the text, read by Rita Claverie de Sciolli, Guatemalan ambassador to the OAS.
The declaration was supported by Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela (represented by a delegate of the opposition leader Juan Guaidó after the departure of the bloc from the government of Nicolás Maduro in 2019).
Honduras communicated its adherence to the text during the session.
Two major absences stand out: Brazil and Argentina.
The first, through the mouth of its ambassador to the OAS, Otávio Brandelli, affirmed that his country, as a non-permanent member, actively participates in the discussions on Ukraine in the UN Security Council, and is very concerned about the decision of Russia to send troops on the ground.
But, he added, Russia’s concerns should be taken into account “mainly with regard to the balance of troops and strategic weapons in the European context” although this “does not give the Russian Federation the right to use force and threaten the integrity territorial and sovereignty of another State”.
On behalf of Argentina, María Cecilia Villagra read the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry the day before, which expresses the “firmest rejection of the use of armed force and deeply regrets” the situation generated in Ukraine.
Bolivia is also not on the list. His ambassador to the organization, Héctor Enrique Arce, affirmed, however, that “absolutely nothing justifies any form of violence or aggression when the unfortunate loss of human life is involved.”
Nicaragua, which asked to leave the OAS last November and sided with Russia in the war, did not support the sentence.
“To be accountable”
The organization’s secretary general, Luis Almagro, stated that “none of the reasons invoked by the Russian president (Vladimir Putin) can be an excuse for the acts that are being committed in Ukraine under his orders.”
“It is difficult to imagine something like this happening in the center of Europe in the 21st century,” he said of a conflict that began “because Russia wants this war” and “launches missiles on a peaceful state.”
“We are fighting with the help of our friends and allies,” said the ambassador, who called for massive sanctions against Russia and more defensive weapons.
He also called for the suspension of Russia’s participation in international organizations, including the OAS.
The representative of Russia considered that the statement was a “misinterpretation of the situation in Ukraine”.
“It has been ignored that the bloody war with civilian casualties has been waged in Donbas (separatist region) for eight years and that all the while our Western colleagues were constantly covering up for the Ukrainian regime, turning a blind eye to military crimes against civilians. “, he claimed.
Minutes later, the Ukrainian ambassador said that it was “painful” for her to listen to her Russian colleague’s speech when “an orphanage, a hospital and civilian infrastructure were attacked.” The attorney general is collecting “the videos, all the photos” and one day “they will be held accountable.”
© 2022 AFP
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