MOSCOW, November 6. /TASS/. The West, in particular the EU countries, dropped their last attempts to cover their refusal to support the Russian resolution ‘Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance’ with ridiculous justifications about freedom of assembly and speech and opposed international efforts in combating aggressive manifestations of racism and xenophobia, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary issued on Saturday.
The diplomat recalled that on November 4, in New York, the meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted on Russia's initiative a resolution against the glorification of Nazism. Some 105 states voted for the document, 52 delegations were against, and 15 countries abstained.
"The West, in particular the countries of the European Union, where all the abovementioned violations take place on a systematic basis, this time dropped their last attempts to cover their refusal to support the resolution with ridiculous excuses about freedom of assembly and speech and opposed international efforts to combat aggressive manifestations of racism and xenophobia. The positions of Germany and Japan were particularly alarming. Their indulgence of dangerous tendencies in view of the dark history of these states in the 20th century makes us question where the ‘democratic West’ is heading," she said.
Zakharova regretted that since the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution against the glorification of Nazism in 2005, not only have the problems listed above not been resolved, but in many ways they have worsened. "Once again we are witnessing attempts to deny our common history. Racist and xenophobic rhetoric is becoming more frequent, as are calls to get rid of migrants, refugees and ‘foreign elements’. Islamophobia, Christianophobia, Afrophobia and anti-Semitism have become commonplace in many states," the diplomat noted, "This year, the adoption of this important document was overshadowed by outright attempts by Western countries to politicize and settle accounts with Russia against the backdrop of the ongoing Ukrainian crisis".
Engagement and unreadiness for dialogue
Zakharova stressed that Western countries, seeking to distort the meaning of the resolution and get even with Russia for their political failures on the Ukrainian issue, unsuccessfully tried to derail the adoption of the document and resorted to procedural manipulation, which once again demonstrated their engagement and unreadiness for an honest and constructive dialogue. "This was yet another attempt to split the ranks of the UN member states and complicate international cooperation in the field of countering neo-Nazism, racism, and xenophobia," she added.
Nevertheless, according to the diplomat, the results of the vote have clearly demonstrated the international community's unwavering support for Russia's traditional initiative, which is presented to the UN General Assembly every year.
"We are convinced that the adoption of this thematic resolution will make a significant contribution to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," the diplomat pointed out.
Resolution
The diplomat recalled that the document was co-sponsored by 31 other states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, China, North Korea, Cuba, Laos, Mali, Malawi, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Syria, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Philippines, the Central African Republic, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia and South Africa.
She also noted that the resolution once again condemned the glorification of the Nazi movement and the whitewashing of former members of the SS organization, including Waffen-SS units that were declared criminal by the Nuremberg Tribunal.
"Serious concern was expressed over the continuing eradication in certain countries of monuments to fighters of Nazism and Fascism and to liberation warriors, which in recent years has acquired the character of state policy". At the same time, the diplomat expressed deep indignation over marches to glorify Nazis and their accomplices and torchlit processions by neo-Nazis and radical nationalists. "This also includes opening memorials and renaming streets, schools and other social facilities in honor of those who fought on the side of the Nazis or collaborated with them. At the same time, there is concern over attempts to raise those who during the World War II fought against the anti-Hitler coalition, collaborated with the Nazis and committed war crimes and crimes against humanity to the rank of national heroes".
According to her, it is especially emphasized that such actions desecrate the memory of countless victims of fascism, have a negative impact on the younger generation, and are totally incompatible with the obligations of UN member states under the charter of the organization.