UN / UKRAINE RESOLUTION VOTE

STORY: UN / UKRAINE RESOLUTION VOTE
TRT: 03:35
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / CHINESE / NATS

DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

SHOTLIST:

RECENT – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations

23 FEBRUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, General Assembly
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Catherine Colonna, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France:
“This is a matter of concern for all of our states because there will be no peace and security anywhere if aggression is rewarded. This war waged by Russia is therefore everybody's business because it threatens the existence of the state because it represents a domineering and imperialist plan. Because it denies the existence of borders. It is everyone's business. As the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, said from this rostrum last September, neutrality is not a possibility because neutrality would amount to becoming an accomplice of the aggressor.”
4. Wide shot, General Assembly
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dai Bing, Chargé d'affaires, China’s Mission to the United Nations:
“China’s position on the Ukraine crisis issue is consistent and clear. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed. The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously. Efforts conducive to peaceful resolution of the crisis should be supported.”
6. Close up, President of the General Assembly
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United Kingdom:
“The amendments attempt to create a false equivalence between Russia, which this General Assembly and the Secretary General have made clear, is engaged in a full scale invasion and Ukraine which is exercising its right of self defense against that aggression. Put simply, these amendments are an attempt to undermine the charter.”
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly:
“We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of draft resolution A/ES-11/L.7, please signify, those against and abstentions.”
9. Various shots, countries voting
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly:
“The General Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/ES-11/L.7 entitled “Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine. The result of the vote is as follows: in favor 141, against seven, abstentions 32. Draft resolution A/ES-11/L.7 is adopted.”
11. Pan left, representatives clapping

STORYLINE:

Marking one year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly approved today a resolution underscoring “the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

The resolution received 141 votes in favor, seven votes against, and 32 abstentions.

The resolution “reiterates its demand that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine” and “emphasizes the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law committed on the territory of Ukraine”.

Before the vote, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, said that “this is a matter of concern for all of our states because there will be no peace and security anywhere if aggression is rewarded.”

Colonna added, “This war waged by Russia is therefore everybody's business because it threatens the existence of the state because it represents a domineering and imperialist plan. Because it denies the existence of borders. It is everyone's business.”

The minister also noted France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, from September, when he said that “neutrality is not a possibility because neutrality would amount to becoming an accomplice of the aggressor.”

Also addressing Member States, the Chargé d'affaires of China’s Mission to the UN, Dai Bing, said that his country’s “position on the Ukraine crisis issue is consistent and clear.”

According to Bing, China believes “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected” and “the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed.”

At the same time, Bing explained, China thinks that “the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously” and “efforts conducive to peaceful resolution of the crisis should be supported.”

Before voting on the resolution, the General Assembly rejected two amendments to the document.

Referring to those amendments, the United Kingdom Permanent Representative, Barbara Woodward, said they “attempt to create a false equivalence between Russia – which this General Assembly and the Secretary General have made clear, is engaged in a full-scale invasion – and Ukraine, which is exercising its right of self-defense against that aggression.”

The ambassador continued, “Put simply, these amendments are an attempt to undermine the Charter.”