In its statement, the OAS strongly calls on Russia to “immediately cease its hostilities, de-escalate, withdraw all its forces and equipment from Ukraine and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy for dispute resolution.”
It condemns the “illegal recognition by the Russian Federation of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions that represents a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”, and also condemns “Russia’s military operation in Ukraine because it is contrary to the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the prohibition of the threat or use of force and the peaceful resolution of disputes that are enshrined in international law and in the Charter of the United Nations”.
The OAS countries, except Uruguay, “call on the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly with regard to the protection of the civilian population and of those who do not participate in hostilities.”
Uruguay and its own declaration
For its part, the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry said that through various pronouncements, it has already expressed its “clear condemnation of the violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine by military forces of the Russian Federation, considering it a violation international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”, also emphasizing the need for “the conflict to be resolved by peaceful means”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls that it published two press releases on February 23 and 24 expressing Uruguay’s position. “Also, Mr. President of the Republic. Luis Lacalle Pou, publicly expressed his firm position on the matter”. For this reason he did not sign the OAS declaration.
In accordance with these pronouncements, Uruguay intervened in the United Nations General Assembly session held on February 23, when dealing with the situation in Ukraine, “making the country’s position clear at the international level and without ambiguity.”
This Friday, February 25, a group of OAS countries approved a declaration to the same effect. “Uruguay, having already made strong public statements regarding the invasion of Ukrainian territory and condemned such actions, and like other countries, made its own statement on the subject, coinciding with the position adopted by the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry and Mr. President of the Republic condemns the Russian military intervention”, indicates the Foreign Ministry.
