UN Assembly Declares Crimea Referendum Invalid

The UN General Assembly on Thursday has adopted a measure declaring that the mid-March referendum in Crimea that led to the peninsula’s annexation by Russia “has no validity” and that the parties should “pursue immediately a peaceful resolution of the situation.”

The UN Security Council convened seven sessions on the situation in Ukraine, and at its eighth meeting, Russia, one of the 15-nation body’s permanent members, blocked action by voting against a draft resolution that would have urged countries not to recognize the results of the referendum in Crimea, UN News Center said.

Reports said there were 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly. Some countries did not participate in the vote.

The non-binding text adopted by the Assembly on Thursday contained similar language, underscoring that the referendum held in Crimea has no validity and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea or of the city of Sevastopol, UN news reported.

The measure calls on all States to “desist and refrain” from actions aimed at the partial or total disruption of Ukraine’s national unity and territorial integrity, “including any attempts to modify Ukraine’s borders through the threat or use of force or other unlawful means.”

Reports added that Western diplomats said the number of yes votes was higher than expected despite what they said was Moscow’s aggressive lobbying efforts against the resolution.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA/GA) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation.

Source: UN News Center

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