The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos França, classified, this Wednesday (6), the aggression of Russia against Ukraine as inadmissible. Asked about Brazil’s clear position on the conflict in a public hearing at the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations (CRE), France rejected criticism that Brazil has a dubious position on the subject.
“In the case of this conflict, we have a clear side, which is world peace. Aggression is unacceptable. At a time when there is an armed conflict and an invasion of territory, we understand that Russia has crossed a red line. In this regard, there is no doubt about Brazil’s position. The Brazilian side is very clear. It is the defense of the national interest and the search for peace. And that position is respected out there,” he said.
Also according to the chancellor, the Brazilian government defends the “immediate ceasefire” and “the protection of civilians and the guarantee of access to humanitarian assistance” for the victims of the war.
Abstention
Regarding the decision of the Brazilian government to abstain in a resolution against Russia, analyzed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) last month, Carlos França said that the position was taken because the government Brazilian believe that the only adequate forum for these discussions is the UN Security Council.
“It is dangerous for the multilateral system that organizations begin to deal with and legislate on matters that are outside their competence. If not tomorrow, perhaps, the International Labor Organization [OIT] and the World Intellectual Property Organization may want to make a resolution condemning Brazil on environmental issues”, he defended, noting that the document was approved by 33 votes and with a high number of abstentions, 24.
The resolution, proposed by Western countries, denounces that “several educational buildings have already been destroyed or [na Ucrânia]such as the Karazin National University building in Kharkiv”.
economic sanctions
Minister Carlos França again criticized economic sanctions that Western countries imposed on Russia as a way of pushing for a ceasefire.
“I understand the use of sanctions by Europe and the United States. It was the weapon they had at that moment to counter the conflict. However, I cannot help but be surprised at the selectivity of sanctions,” he said. France disagreed with comments from European ambassadors that if Brazil joins the sanctions soon, like other countries, the world would have a quicker end to the conflict.
“Germany itself suffers from the possibility of not relying on energy from Russian fuel for its industry, for heating its population, for generating energy. If even these countries have difficulty, what will Brazil say that depends on fertilizers to keep the very strong engine of agribusiness spinning,” he said.
Also according to the minister, sanctions tend to serve the interests of a small group of countries, harming the vast majority, which depends on basic supplies. From an economic point of view, França admitted that the main concern of the Brazilian government is linked to the supply of fertilizers. “They are indispensable for agriculture and for food security in the world”, he pointed out.
