Moscow accuses West of ‘twisting the arms’ of developing countries — RT World News
West used ‘diplomatic terror’ to secure anti-Russian outcome in UN vote, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Moscow criticized the decision of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to adopt a resolution on the non-recognition of the referendums held in the people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and in the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, on the joining the Russian Federation.
Speaking to Russian Channel 1 on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Western nations of resorting to diplomatic terror and « twisting the arms of developing countries and threatening them will bring all kinds of punishment », to get them to vote to pass the resolution.
“It was only through open blackmail and threats that they were able to secure the outcome. We all understand perfectly. And the statements of the Americans that they do not persuade anyone, and that everyone votes for themselves, are a lie. And they know it too. Lavrov insisted.
The minister’s statement comes after the Assembly held an emergency extraordinary session on October 12 to vote to recognize the referendums as null and void. 143 of the 193 UN members voted in favor of the resolution. Five states, including Russia, voted against and 45 abstained or did not vote.
Before the vote, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, called the resolution « Provocative document » full of « The awful double standard that the West dares to impose. » He went on to suggest that the adoption of this resolution could undermine any potential diplomatic effort to resolve the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Nebenzia also condemned Monday’s decision by UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi to hold an open vote on the resolution, rejecting Russia’s request to use the secret ballot. Korosi « not only deprived member states of the ability to vote by secret ballot, without coercion, but also gave blackmailers more time for their manipulations », said the Russian diplomat, who had previously argued that for many countries it « can be difficult » publicly express one’s point of view
He also noted that a number of national representatives of the « Global South » personally confessed to him that they had been the subject of economic blackmail and direct threats from Americans and Europeans to support the UN resolution.
Before launching its military operation in Ukraine in February, Russia recognized the sovereignty of the people’s republics of Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR), arguing that kyiv had failed to represent and protect the people living there. . Residents of two other regions, Kherson and Zaporozhye, also voted by large majorities in public referendums to declare independence and join Russia. President Vladimir Putin signed unification treaties on October 5 with the four new Russian regions.
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