The Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia met with the Slovenian Prime Minister
Saudi envoy: Russia’s exclusion from the Human Rights Council is an “escalation step”
NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia called the UN General Assembly’s move Thursday to exclude Russia from the Human Rights Council an “escalation step” that exacerbates an already tense situation.
The Kingdom emphasized that human rights issues must not be subject to “selectivity, double standards or politicization”.
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Mohammed Abdulaziz Alateek said the move is not just a form of politicization, but one-sided, giving some countries more rights than others.
The General Assembly voted to exclude Russia from the 47-member human rights council for “serious and systematic violations and abuses of human rights.”
In a vote on the US-led proposal, 93 countries voted in favor, 24 against and 58, including Saudi Arabia, abstained.
Alateek said the kingdom had chosen to abstain because it believed any aggravation of the already tense situation would negatively affect the talks between Russians and Ukrainians, “with a view to reaching a peaceful solution that saves the region and the world further negative political, economic or humanitarian implications. “
Russia’s suspension from the HRC sets a “serious precedent that threatens multilateral work and is contrary to the principles of international law” and negatively affects the work of international organizations, he added.
The ambassador condemned acts that violate international humanitarian law “in all forms and wherever they occur”. He deplored the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and called for the protection of civilians and civilian facilities.
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN, reiterated that her country “strongly condemns all violations of international humanitarian law” in Ukraine.
“Civilians bear the burden of this conflict and it must end, they must be spared, and the parties must fulfill their obligations under international law,” she said.
Explaining the UAE’s decision to abstain, she said that “establishing the facts on the ground is important to ensure the rights of victims, but also in the long term to enable communities to heal, reconcile and build sustainable peace.”
As a member of the HRC, the UAE had previously voted in favor of establishing an international independent commission of inquiry to investigate alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Ukraine.
Nusseibeh said that the commission has just started its investigations and that “the proper procedure requires that the investigative mechanisms be able to complete their work. Today we decided to abstain from this resolution because we need to ensure that any decision we take will be in this GA, was based on an appropriate procedure.
She added: “The UN is based on the premise of dialogue and constructive cooperation, with each other and even with those who have opposing views from us.
“The organizations that make up our international system were not established as a club of like-minded people. We need to preserve spaces in the multilateral arena so that we can talk to each other and not just to each other. And that idea is at the core of this organization’s DNA. “
Nusseibeh called for redoubled diplomatic efforts for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. She expressed support for the ongoing negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, offering “full support to all efforts to mediate” her country, adding: “Our common strength is in our involvement.”