Ukraine defended the postponement of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), scheduled for next week in Vienna, refusing to participate in it if Russia is present.
The position is stated in the letter of the head of the Ukrainian delegation Nikita Poturayev to the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Sederfel, which was quoted on Wednesday by the Austrian news agency APA.
“We have learned that the Austrian authorities are ready to issue visas to members of the Russian delegation and, therefore, Russian deputies will participate in the winter session,” Poturayev’s February 13 letter circulated to APA reads.
The Ukrainian politician also recalled that the meeting, scheduled for the next 23 and 24, will coincide with the anniversary of the first day of the Russian invasion of his country (February 24, 2022), and that Moscow was subject to sanctions for this aggression.
In addition, the anniversary will be the subject of a general debate in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly under the slogan “One year later: Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine”, which, according to Poturaev, will serve the Russian delegation in an attempt to “justify aggression against Ukraine” and “cover up war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Ukrainians.”
Kiev is convinced that “all of this will undermine the integrity of the Parliamentary Assembly and compromise the clear position it has shown regarding Russian aggression since 2014,” the letter says, explaining that, therefore, Ukraine believes that it cannot attend the meeting. .if Russia is present.
Poturaev recalled that other OSCE countries expressed “great concern” about Russia’s participation.
Earlier this month, 81 deputies from 20 countries of the European organization, in a letter sent to the government and parliament of Austria, asked not to issue visas to Russian delegates.
In the letter, the deputies argued that Russia’s participation in the rally, timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the “criminal invasion” of Ukraine, could be considered a “provocation”, but the Austrian Foreign Ministry argued that the entry permit is an obligation under international law.
APA reports that Lithuania also stated that it would boycott the Vienna session if Russia took part in it.
“The only viable solution to preserve the integrity of the Assembly, to protect the principles and commitments of the OSCE, is to postpone the Winter Assembly,” Poturaev said, noting that such an option enjoys broad support from partners.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly brings together representatives from the national parliaments of each member country, with Russia announcing that it will send a 10-person delegation to the meeting on 23 and 24 February.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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