The 193-member global body approved Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s virtual speech by a vote of 101-7 with 19 abstentions, including China. The seven countries that voted “no” were Belarus, Cuba, Eritrea, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia and Syria. The assembly initially voted on an amendment proposed by Belarus, a close ally of Russia, that would have allowed any leader who faced extraordinary hardship and was unable to attend to deliver a pre-recorded speech. It was defeated by a vote of 23-67 with 27 abstentions. The adopted document expresses concern that the leaders of the UN’s “peace-loving” sovereign nations cannot attend in person “for reasons beyond their control, due to continued foreign invasion, aggression, military hostilities that do not allow safe departure and return of their countries or the need to fulfill their national defense and security duties and functions’. The document, which was proposed by Ukraine and had more than 50 co-sponsors, allows Zelensky to submit a pre-recorded statement that will be played in the General Assembly hall. He stresses that this will not set a precedent for future high-level assemblies. Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya expressed his satisfaction that the assembly will have the opportunity to hear directly from Zelenskyy “about how he sees the end of this war and how he assesses the impact of this war on world affairs and the United Nations in particular.” In an interview with The Associated Press, he expressed his gratitude that 101 UN member states had so strongly supported Zelensky’s hearing, saying it was “regrettable” that Russia gathered only six other countries to oppose his speech. Kyslytsya said Zelenskyy was scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday evening and there was no reason to change it. The document refers to the General Assembly resolution passed in an emergency special session on March 2 — six days after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 — calling for an immediate halt to Moscow’s offensive and the withdrawal of all Russian troops. The vote on the resolution, entitled “Attack against Ukraine”, was 141-5 with 35 abstentions. British adviser Philip Reid told the assembly before the votes that the reason it was necessary “is because Russia has invaded its neighbor and that is why the president of Ukraine cannot travel to New York for the General Debate”. the official name of the high-level meeting. . Nicaragua’s representative, whom her mission declined to identify, said the proposed decision “reflects a clear tendency toward exclusion” and violates the UN Charter’s principle of “sovereign equality of all members.” He urged members to oppose the proposal and avoid “double standards” and “vested interests”. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly was almost virtual in 2020 and hybrid in 2021. But this year the assembly decided that all speeches must be delivered in person.
