Moscow, December 21 (Interfax) - The decision of certain former Soviet republics to abstain from voting on the UN resolution on the impermissibility of racism and xenophobia is disrespectful to those who died in WW2, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 21.
"Notably, the delegations of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, whose citizens fought the Nazis together with the Red Army in the Great Patriotic War [of 1941-1945], abstained from the vote. We regard this decision as disrespectful to the feat of those who brought glory to their home countries in the fight against the Nazis," the ministry said.
The UN General Assembly approved the draft resolution on the inadmissibility of practices leading to contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at a plenary meeting on Dec. 18. The draft was presented by Russia.
A total of 127 states voted for the resolution, one delegation (the United States) voted against, and 54 countries abstained.
"We are puzzled and upset by the fact that the resolution, which gained support of the overwhelming majority of UN member countries, was turned down by the United States and certain states, including all members of the European Union," the ministry said.
