July 12, 2019

Meanwhile, in Luxembourg

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As noted in our previous editorial, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on June 25 restored Russia’s voting rights and thus betrayed its own principles. This week, another parliamentary body took an entirely different approach.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on July 8 voted overwhelmingly (94-7, with 11 abstentions) to adopt the Luxembourg Declaration, which included several resolutions related to Russia’s war on Ukraine. The final document of the OSCE PA’s 28th annual session, held in Luxembourg on July 4-8, “Calls for the cessation of military hostilities in eastern Ukraine, the full withdrawal of heavy-caliber weaponry by both sides, an immediate end to the use of landmines and greater investment in demining efforts, the de-occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukrainian territory, and a comprehensive settlement of the conflict based on full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, in particular the obligations under the Minsk Agreements which have not been fulfilled by the Russian Federation.”

A most significant part of the Luxembourg Declaration is the “Resolution on the Militarization by the Russian Federation of the Temporarily Occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, Ukraine, the Black Sea and the Sea Of Azov.” In that lengthy resolution, the OSCE PA “Reaffirms its full respect for the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” “Reiterates its condemnation of the ongoing illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation… and its grave concern over the increasing militarization of the Crimean Peninsula,” “Condemns the unprovoked act of armed aggression and unjustifiable and disproportionate use of military force by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian vessels and their crews, which took place in the neutral international waters of the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait on 25 November 2018” (significantly, the resolution recognized the captured seamen as prisoners of war), and “Supports the development of other relevant measures by the OSCE participating states and institutions aimed at deterring further aggressive actions and impediment of the freedom of shipping by the Russian Federation on the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.”

Russia’s delegation was not pleased. Nikolai Ryzhak, a member of the delegation referred to the resolution’s statements as “tales” and stated: “False allegations about annexation, invasion and militarization have nothing in common with the real state of affairs.” A predictable reaction…

But the OSCE, which encompasses 57 states from across Europe, North America and Asia, admirably stood by the principles originally enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, most notably its “Decalogue” of principles guiding relations between participating states. Among them are: sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty; refraining from the threat or use of force; inviolability of frontiers; territorial integrity of states; non-intervention in internal affairs; and fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law.

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