The position of the Alberto Fernández administration put the defense of the principle of territorial integrity and the rejection of the acquisition of territories by force at the center of discussion.
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday condemned Russia’s attempt to annex Ukrainian territories. The resolution was approved by a resounding majority of 143 votes, including Argentina, as anticipated Clarion.
There were only five votes against Russia and 35 abstentions were recorded. From Latin America Nicaragua voted against, while the governments of Cuba, Bolivia and Honduras abstained.
The resolution of this Wednesday, in addition, rejected the referendums organized by the president Vladimir Putin in these Ukrainian regions, where a large number of pro-Russian populations live: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
From the statement issued by the Foreign Minister santiago cafiero and the statements of the Argentine ambassador to the UN in New York, María del Carmen Squeff, Clarion rebuilt the explanation of the vote of the Argentine government.
“Argentina has maintained a consistent position against the acquisition of territories by force and in defense of the principle of territorial integrity,” said Squeff, who asked to abide by the precepts of the UN charter.
He remarked in the same sense as Argentina “does not consider referendums to be lawful held in the occupied territories of Ukraine from September 23 to 27″. And he maintained that “any attempt to partially or totally break the national unity and territorial integrity of a State or its political independence by force is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Therefore, from the point of view of international law, such referendums are null; they lack legal value and do not alter the status of said territories”.
Squeff indicated that this position had already been expressed in the different multilateral forums in relation to the War in Ukraine and also in reference to the Russian annexation of Crimeaon which in reality the second government of Cristina Kirchner had confused positions.
Although the argument behind this Argentine position also underlies the local opinion on the Malvinas conflict with the UK, Squeff did not name it.
“It will only be through full adherence to the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, respect for international law, the sovereignty of States and their territorial integrity, that it will be possible to arrive at solutions that are just and lasting for all political and social actors,” said the diplomat.
He reported that Argentina condemned “the aggression against Ukraine” and asked the Russian Federation to “immediately cease the unlawful use of force and military operations on Ukrainian territory”.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Argentina tweeted thanking him for the vote.