MINSK, 7 April (BelTA) – Belarus categorically opposes the idea of suspending Russia's membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council. Belarus' Permanent Representative to the UN Valentin Rybakov made the statement at the resumed 11th extraordinary special session of the United Nations General Assembly, BelTA has learned. A draft resolution on suspending Russia's membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council had been submitted for the General Assembly's consideration.
According to Valentin Rybakov, the draft resolution was submitted due to purely political interests, which aim to demonize Russia and attempt to isolate it in international organizations. Belarus believes such ideas can unbalance the entire international cooperation system, which relies on the UN Charter, and can bring about long-term negative consequences, including the dissolution of the United Nations Organization.
Valentin Rybakov stressed the proposal to exclude Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council is a direct contribution to the destruction of the council itself. It is also a contribution to securing the downfall of the human rights observation system under the UN aegis. It has already been manifested (particularly in the last few weeks) as feelings of racism, xenophobia, and other manifestations of discrimination based on language, culture, religion, and other affiliations in western countries.
Instead of dealing with transitory tasks under the influence of emotions it is necessary to think about prospects of resolution of conflict situations and about the post-conflict world order among other things, Belarus' representative stressed.
The suggested decision as well as other steps and attempt to limit Russia's participation in international organizations will not only fail to contribute to the resolution of the situation in Ukraine. It will expose prospects of peaceful negotiations, which origins Belarus and its president Aleksandr Lukashenko established a month ago, to additional risks.
“We urge to think about it and vote against the proposed draft resolution,” Valentin Rybakov concluded.
