India has said that it remains “concerned” over the situation in Ukraine even as it abstained in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable for violations of international law by its invasion of Ukraine.
The UNGA resolution, co-sponsored by 50 nations, also requires Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv for damages, loss and injury resulting from the war. The UNGA on Monday voted in favour of the resolution calling for creation of repatriation and remedy mechanism for damages created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A total of 94 countries voted in favour of resolution while 14 voted against it. A total of 73 nations, including India, abstained.
Addressing the 11th Emergency Special Session of the UNGA, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in an explanation of India’s vote said that India has called for efforts for an immediate cessation of hostilities and returning to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
India’s permanent representative to UN, said that global order based on international law, the UN charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty must be upheld. Ruchira Kamboj said that they need to consider whether a reparation process through a vote in the General Assembly will contribute to efforts at a resolution of the conflict.
Ruchira Kamboj further stated that the “legal validity” of such a process by a General Assembly resolution remains unclear. She emphasised that they must not develop mechanisms without adequate international legal vetting which has implications for the functioning of the UN and international economic system. Kamboj said that they need to avoid measures which pose a danger to the possibility of dialogue and negotiations.(ANI)
