Biden hails UN vote demanding Russia halt Ukraine attack; Iraq abstains

Laurie Mylroie 2022/03/03 13:15

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya holds up a copy of the charter of the UN while speaking during an emergency meeting of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2022. (Photo: Seth Wenig/AP)

World Joe Biden Vladimir Putin UN General Assembly Ukraine Crisis Russia Russian invasion of Ukraine

WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) – US President Joe Biden hailed the UN General Assembly vote on Wednesday, demanding an immediate halt to Russia's assault on Ukraine and the withdrawal of all Russian forces from that country.

The 193 member body voted overwhelmingly against Moscow: 141 countries in favor of the resolution, five against, and 35 abstentions. Under the rules governing a Special Session of the General Assembly, a resolution requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Iraq Abstains

The 35 abstentions included Iraq, although every member of the Iraqi government owes the fact that he holds high office in Baghdad to the 2003 US-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein and his regime.

The US even maintains a "strategic dialogue" with Iraq.

Thus, it is unclear why Iraq adopted a neutral stance on such an important issue. Possibly, it relates to the lack of a permanent government. Although it has been nearly five months since Iraq's elections, a new government has yet to be seated while the political jockeying continues.

Iran, which has considerable influence in Baghdad, also abstained, as did Algeria. But most Middle Eastern countries supported the resolution, including Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

In fact, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and Turkey all acted as co-sponsors.

Syria Sides with Russia

Only five countries opposed the resolution: Belarus, Syria, Eritrea, and North Korea, along with Russia.

The regimes in both Belarus and Syria owe their existence to Moscow, which helped save them from strong internal opposition. Now, Minsk and Damascus are prepared to do pretty much whatever Moscow asks.

In fact, the Syrian regime is exerting new pressures on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria to force the SDF to come to terms with it.

Possibly, the Syrian actions against the SDF are conducted in concert with Moscow, part of a global Russian challenge to the US and Europe.

Syria appears to have supported ISIS in its stunning assault on the al-Sina'a prison in Hasakah on Jan. 20. The fighting lasted for ten days, before all ISIS fighters were cleared from the site.

Since then, forces of the Syrian regime launched an unprecedented attack on the SDF in the Tal Tamir region. In addition, ISIS is reportedly plotting another major attack, this time on the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria.

Biden Hails UNGA Resolution

The Security Council first considered the resolution on Friday, but Russia, not unexpectedly, vetoed it. Ukraine and its supporters then pressed for it to be considered in an emergency session of the General Assembly.

Denouncing "Russia's unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable war on Ukraine," Biden said that the resolution's passage and the large majority that supported it "demonstrates the extent of global outrage at Russia's horrific assault on a sovereign neighbor and showcased unprecedented global unity."

"The world is rejecting Russia's lies," Biden continued. "Russia is responsible for the devastating abuses of human rights and the international humanitarian crisis that we are watching unfold in real-time."

"There is no room for excuses or equivocation. Russia is to blame."