The AFP reported yesterday:
According to a UN source, the US rejected the Russian draft resolution because it came too late to be compatible with the agenda of the UN Disarmament Commission.But this is a fantastic excuse, given that President Trump's October 20 announcement about the US withdrawing from the INF Treaty blindsided the United Nations! It came as a complete surprise! Given this, the First Committee had every right and a responsibility to add Russia's draft proposal as an emergency item to their agenda! What was the proposal about?
The draft resolution pulls from a series of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and aims to reinforce the viability of the treaty ... If passed, the resolution would allow "the continuation of discussions between Russia and the US in order to work through the two countries' concerns about the framework of the agreement."As to the other excuse:
And Washington criticized Moscow for having shared the resolution with Russian media before UN member states had seen it, according to the same source.
How else did Washington expect Moscow to respond to the horrific surprise that Trump sprang on Russia's citizens and their government?
Both excuses are specious; as such they're another slap in the face not only to the Russian people but to all peoples everywhere, a slap delivered by a leader of a superpower nation.
Even more ominously President Trump rationalizes the slap and others as a means to right not just an imbalance in U.S. defense-trade relations but a gross injustice! He's done this by portraying America as a victim -- a victim of the entire world outside American shores taking advantage of the United States!
Even more ominously President Trump rationalizes the slap and others as a means to right not just an imbalance in U.S. defense-trade relations but a gross injustice! He's done this by portraying America as a victim -- a victim of the entire world outside American shores taking advantage of the United States!
Does it get more dangerous for the world's peoples, including Americans?
Yet the U.S. has only one vote at the United Nations. Why did so many other member nations also vote to reject a reasonable proposal on such a crucial issue, or abstain from voting? The following news report from a Russia state media outlet is unable to provide the answer. Neither am I, beyond citing ostrich behavior.
UN Committee Votes Against Russia’s Resolution on INF Treaty
Trump Surrenders to John Bolton on Russia and Arms Control; October 26, The American Conservative
Czech President Says US Losing Credibility Amid Plans to Exit From INF Treaty; October 26, Sputnik
October 27, 2018 - 3:03
Sputnik
Russia introduced a draft resolution aimed to preserve the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty to the UN General Assembly First Committee after the US announced a unilateral withdrawal from the pact.
The First Committee of the UN General Assembly, also known as Disarmament and International Security Committee, declined on Friday to hear Russia's draft resolution in support of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
Russia proposed the draft resolution to the committee, but the US delegation protested against it. On Friday, the committee voted on whether the resolution draft should be reviewed.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, France and 50 more countries voted against the draft resolution, while 31 nations supported it, and 54 abstained.
Andrei Belousov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, commented on the vote, saying the reaction of the committee was puzzling.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, France and 50 more countries voted against the draft resolution, while 31 nations supported it, and 54 abstained.
Andrei Belousov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, commented on the vote, saying the reaction of the committee was puzzling.
Last Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced his country's intention to withdraw from the INF Treaty over Russia's alleged violations of the accord.
"In a span of a year, if the United States withdraws from the treaty and begins to build up its nuclear potential uncontrollably, we will have to face another reality, and the procedural issues we have been locking horns over for two days will look so small and insignificant, and we will regret today's decision," Belousov warned.
Several of the countries that abstained argued the issue would be more addressed more appropriately by the UN Security Council, according to AFP.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would wait for Washington's official clarification on its possible withdrawal from the INF Treaty and only then determine Russia's position on the matter. He added that any action in this area would be met with counteraction, stressing that parity would be maintained under any circumstances.
The INF Treaty was signed by then-leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and then-US President Ronald Reagan in 1987 amid the Cold War. The two sides reached a historic agreement to cut their nuclear arsenals and pledged to destroy all cruise or ground-launched ballistic missiles with ranges between 310 and 3,400 miles.
[END REPORT]
See also:
‘Russia Prepares for War, US Prepares a War’ – Diplomat on INF Treaty Withdrawal; October 27, Sputnik
NATO displays military might to vexed Russia in giant Norway exercises; October 25, AFP
‘Russia will never be our friend, we’ll slap them when needed’ – US envoy to UN; April 6, RT
"Did your eagle eat the olives?" Putin Teases Bolton About US Coat of Arms; October 23, Sputnik
Three Reasons Not to Leave the INF Treaty; October 25, The National Interest
NATO Envoys Reportedly Urge Trump to Keep INF Treaty in 'Last-Ditch Effort'; October 26, Sputnik
Sputnik
Russia introduced a draft resolution aimed to preserve the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty to the UN General Assembly First Committee after the US announced a unilateral withdrawal from the pact.
The First Committee of the UN General Assembly, also known as Disarmament and International Security Committee, declined on Friday to hear Russia's draft resolution in support of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
Russia proposed the draft resolution to the committee, but the US delegation protested against it. On Friday, the committee voted on whether the resolution draft should be reviewed.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, France and 50 more countries voted against the draft resolution, while 31 nations supported it, and 54 abstained.
Andrei Belousov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, commented on the vote, saying the reaction of the committee was puzzling.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, France and 50 more countries voted against the draft resolution, while 31 nations supported it, and 54 abstained.
Andrei Belousov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, commented on the vote, saying the reaction of the committee was puzzling.
Last Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced his country's intention to withdraw from the INF Treaty over Russia's alleged violations of the accord.
"In a span of a year, if the United States withdraws from the treaty and begins to build up its nuclear potential uncontrollably, we will have to face another reality, and the procedural issues we have been locking horns over for two days will look so small and insignificant, and we will regret today's decision," Belousov warned.
Several of the countries that abstained argued the issue would be more addressed more appropriately by the UN Security Council, according to AFP.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would wait for Washington's official clarification on its possible withdrawal from the INF Treaty and only then determine Russia's position on the matter. He added that any action in this area would be met with counteraction, stressing that parity would be maintained under any circumstances.
The INF Treaty was signed by then-leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and then-US President Ronald Reagan in 1987 amid the Cold War. The two sides reached a historic agreement to cut their nuclear arsenals and pledged to destroy all cruise or ground-launched ballistic missiles with ranges between 310 and 3,400 miles.
[END REPORT]
See also:
‘Russia Prepares for War, US Prepares a War’ – Diplomat on INF Treaty Withdrawal; October 27, Sputnik
NATO displays military might to vexed Russia in giant Norway exercises; October 25, AFP
‘Russia will never be our friend, we’ll slap them when needed’ – US envoy to UN; April 6, RT
"Did your eagle eat the olives?" Putin Teases Bolton About US Coat of Arms; October 23, Sputnik
Three Reasons Not to Leave the INF Treaty; October 25, The National Interest
NATO Envoys Reportedly Urge Trump to Keep INF Treaty in 'Last-Ditch Effort'; October 26, Sputnik
Czech President Says US Losing Credibility Amid Plans to Exit From INF Treaty; October 26, Sputnik
U.S. repeatedly violated INF Treaty and got away with it on a technicality; October 26, Pundita
Question: When does a defensive missile system become offensive?; 26 March 2010, RT
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Question: When does a defensive missile system become offensive?; 26 March 2010, RT
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