Syria: The suspension of Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council is “a hostile step”

NEW YORK, April.7, (ST)- Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, has asserted that the suspension of Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council will have a negative impact on the UN’s balance, its universality and the effectiveness of its role. 

 

“This international forum witnesses once again an exploitation of human rights’ issues in service of narrow political interests of some states to create a state of polarization and politicization to target Russia under the pretext of dealing with the humanitarian situation in Ukraine,” Sabbagh said in a statement during an urgent session of the General Assembly held on Thursday on a draft decision about suspending the Russian Federation’s membership at the Human Rights Council.

 

He affirmed that Syria rejected the draft resolution that was submitted to the General Assembly about suspending Russia’s membership at the Human Rights Council as it implies a dangerous state of hostility and reinforces the hegemony of Western countries over the Council as well as turn the UN into a tool to put political pressures on certain countries.

 

Sabbagh referred to the hypocrisy of the countries that disregard the rights, security and safety of civilians, including children and women in the Donbass region, who have been subjected to a systematic Ukrainian hostile campaign and continuous bombing for years, yet we have not witnessed such a Western move to protect them and defend their rights.

 

“Making accusations by some countries and promoting them through misleading propaganda by publishing photos and videos of unknown source and location and publishing them through open sources cannot be a solid basis for the General Assembly to take a decision,” he clarified.

 

Sabbagh underscored Syria’s keenness on guaranteeing the respect for human rights and the importance of providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to regions of crises. 

 

“ Syria  rejects  any politicization of humanitarian issues,” the ambassador said, stressing the importance of adopting the principles of neutrality, objectivity and non-discrimination in human rights issues.

 

Sabbagh said that the Western systematical movement to defame the Russian Federation has nothing to do with human rights in Ukraine or anywhere else, but it comes within the framework of Western countries’ endeavor to impose their hegemony over the world by besieging Russia.

 

He went on to say: “When the United States and its allies destroyed the city of Raqqa and killed thousands of Syrians, we did not see this international political or media mobilization to uncover violators of human rights.”

 

Sabbagh concluded by saying: “ Syria, based on its firm stance in rejecting all attempts to politicize or manipulate human rights, voted against the draft resolution, and it calls for keeping human rights issues away from any political considerations and rejecting the policy of double standards.  If our countries want the continuity and survival of the United Nations, then we must all say: No to such resolutions. If we are more frank and transparent, we see such practices as a threat to the existence of the United Nations system.”

 

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council. 

 

The U.S.-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained.

 

Basma Qaddour