Egypt Abstains from Voting in UNGA to Suspend Russia from UNHRC

The UN General Assembly has suspended Russia from Human Rights Council. However, Egypt abstained from a draft resolution to suspend Russia from UNHRC over the Ukraine crisis.

Egypt considered that the draft resolution to suspend Russia's membership in the Human Rights Council represents a serious turning point in the course of the United Nations over its history.

Ambassador Osama Abdel-Khaleq, Egypt’s representative to the United Nations said, during his word today at the UN General Assembly meeting, that the organization’s respect for its charter, rules, procedures and system of work has strengthened the international community’s reliance on it in order to consolidate the international work system, and maintain international peace and security, which is now under in risk.

He added that the proposed draft resolution is a waste of the organization's mechanisms that have long been trusted by members of the international community and an indication that the credibility of the United Nations and its mechanisms will begin to decline.

The Egyptian diplomat said that this will have severe negative repercussions on the UN's ability to carry out its responsibilities, in accordance with its charter.

The delegate of Egypt also expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the continued double standards, saying, "For how many times were less decisive and more lenient decisions sufficient with regard to clear human rights violations in the not so distant past.

He affirmed Egypt's complete rejection at the same time of any grave violations of human rights and violations of the legal obligations of states in this regard, stressing the need to confront such grave violations decisively in accordance with the UN mechanisms, which ensure that these heinous acts are addressed and the appropriate decision is taken to confront them.

In addition, the ambassador stressed that Egypt does not reject the draft resolution for being related to the Ukraine crisis, but its links towards politicizing the United Nations bodies and specialized agencies.

He concluded that Egypt's consistent position rejects this approach, as it contradicts the purpose upon which the organization, its agencies, and organs were established.