Moscow regrets UN voting against resolution condemning glorification of Nazism

MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. The voting by the United States, Canada, Ukraine and Palau in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly against the resolution on the need to counter the glorification of Nazism raises eyebrows and is regrettable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"The fact that Canada, Palau, the United States and Ukraine voted against this document supported by the overwhelming majority of the UN member-countries and that the delegations of the European Union member-countries abstained from voting causes extreme bewilderment and regret," the ministry said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to the particular importance of the resolution’s provision, which "expressed concern over recurring attempts to desecrate or demolish monuments erected in memory of those who fought against Nazism during World War Two and to illegally exhume or remove the remains of such persons." "The adopted document reflects the problem of declaring and attempts to declare former Nazis, members of Waffen SS and ‘those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement’ participants in the national liberation movements," the ministry said.

"The passing of the UN resolution on the fight against the glorification of Nazism will give a clear signal to the countries where there is a long-standing need for drastic measures to counter frequent attempts to glorify Nazism, including Waffen SS veterans," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution submitted by Russia on measures against the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that facilitate the escalation of modern forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. In December the resolution will be submitted to the plenary session of the UN General Assembly.