Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said that Bangladesh abstained from the UN General Assembly vote on a resolution over the Ukraine crisis for the sake of peace.
“We voted for peace,” he said, adding that the resolution was not meant for stopping the war but apparently to blame somebody.
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Four South Asian countries - Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan - were among 35 abstentions as the UN General Assembly voted at an emergency session Wednesday on the Ukraine issue. The vote on the “Aggression against Ukraine” resolution was 141-5, with 35 abstentions.
The abstentions included China, as expected, but also some surprises from usual Russian allies Cuba and Nicaragua.
"If you read the resolution wording, it’s not a call for stopping the war but to blame someone apparently," said Dr Momen while responding to a question at a media briefing at the state guesthouse Padma on Sunday.
He said Bangladesh is a country for peace.
"We want peace. We don't want war anywhere in the world. We said we’re deeply concerned about the war. So, we expect the UN charter to be followed by all," he said.
The foreign ninister said the dispute should be resolved through discussion and dialogue.
“We said we’ve enough confidence in the UN Secretary General and that he should take an initiative to resolve this dispute through dialogue and discussion peacefully. We upheld this position in the UN,” Momen said.
Few days ago, Bangladesh urged restraint by all parties and to immediately resume diplomatic efforts and dialogue in order to settle all disputes by peaceful means, and refrain from taking any action that may endanger international peace and stability.
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Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but they do have clout in reflecting international opinion.
Under special emergency session rules, a resolution needs approval of two-thirds of those countries voting, and abstentions don’t count.