UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to adopt a western resolution to hold Russia accountable for violating international law by invading Ukraine while Pakistan abstained during voting.
In the UNGA voting, 73 countries did not support voting and abstained, 94 support move while 14 opposed it.
The vote in the 193-member Assembly was 94 in favour to 14 against, with 73 abstaining.
The UNGA resolution, cosponsored by 57 countries, endorses the need to setup “an international mechanism for reparation for damage, loss or injury” as an outcome of Russia’s “wrongful acts” against Ukraine.
The UNGA resolution recommended that the member states, in cooperation with Ukraine, create “an international register” to record their claims and information on damage, loss or injury to Ukrainians caused by Russia.
Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Aamir Khan told APP news agency that it would be “unprecedented” to establish a system that is neither managed by nor accountable to any of the UN principal organs.
Pakistani envoy pointed out that double standards in international law were counter productive and the UNGA and its members must refrain from such unethical practices.
Importantly, Russia’s veto in the Security Council came in the way of the 15-member body to take any action since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. However, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly, which already has adopted four resolutions criticising Russia’s actions.
