Crimea Resolution Backed by U.S. Barely Gets UN Majority
By Sangwon Yoon Mar 27, 2014 2:54 PM ET
Ukraine and its backers won support from little more than half the members of the United Nations General Assembly to declare invalid Crimea’s referendum to secede, as Russia wielded diplomatic and economic pressure for members to abstain or cast no ballot.
The 193-member General Assembly voted 100-11 today to pass a nonbinding resolution describing the Crimean referendum as “having no validity” and calling on all states and agencies to not recognize “any alteration of the status” of Crimea. Fifty-eight members abstained, and 24 were absent.
While the resolution makes no mention of Russia for its invasion or annexation of the peninsula, the 46 sponsors sought to win a clear majority as a symbol of the country’s isolation from the international community. Instead, many members averted a commitment after aggressive lobbying by Russia.
“A lot of UN members avoid voting on sensitive disputes that don’t concern them in the General Assembly,” said Richard Gowan, associate director of New York University’s Center on International Cooperation, in an e-mail. “African countries typically avoid casting votes for or against resolutions on human rights in Iran and North Korea, for example.”
Countries aren’t obliged to abide by General Assembly resolutions, in contrast to Security Council resolutions that are legally binding. Russia used its veto power to block a council resolution on Ukraine earlier this month. No country has veto power in the General Assembly.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-27/crimea-resolution-backed-by-west-barely-gets-un-majority.html