Brazil does not sign statement supporting Ukraine at OAS meeting

Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina are not among the 24 countries of the Americas that signed a declaration of support for Ukraine and condemnation of Moscow read Thursday, October 6, during the OAS annual meeting in Lima.

The document, applauded by the United States, was presented by Guatemala at the plenary session of the 52nd General Assembly of the Organization of American Countries, the regional bloc’s highest political body.

Although it was read during the forum, the declaration does not constitute a decision of the Assembly.

Entitled “Continued support for an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine,” the text states the “renewed and forceful condemnation of the illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.”

In addition, it highlights the “immense concern over the Russian Federation’s indifference and disregard to OAS calls for the withdrawal of its military forces from Ukraine within internationally recognized borders.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the statement at the OAS plenary: “It is crucial that we stand united in condemning Russia’s fraudulent referenda as a violation of international law and that we unequivocally reject any attempt to annex Ukrainian territory illegally.”

“We hope these countries will also support a resolution on the issue expected at the UN General Assembly “in the coming weeks,” it added.

The declaration was signed by Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, United States, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

“We reiterate the urgency to end this invasion and seek a peaceful way out. We cannot tolerate the intolerable and, much less, the war that has affected us so much,” said Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro in presenting the document.

The OAS annual assembly began on October 5 with a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called on the countries of the Americas to support his country in the face of the Russian invasion.

In March, the OAS called for an end to possible war crimes in Ukraine and suspended Russia as a permanent observer the following month.

With information from AFP

More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error