Mr. Chair,

Ukraine would like to make a statement to explain its vote on the resolution A/C.3/70/L.59/Rev.1.

Ukraine is among the countries who suffered most of the occupation by Nazi regime during the Second World War. That is why we strongly condemn all forms of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

In this regard we reiterate our consistent position that the above mentioned resolution has nothing in common with fight against Nazism, neo-Nazism and other forms of intolerance. On the contrary we are witnessing how the penholder of the draft resolution – Russia, manipulate with the history and twist the essence of the Nuremberg Tribunal in pursuance of one’s aggressive political interests.

For years the Russian Federation has warned of a resurgence of fascism in Europe meaning the Governments of the neighboring countries which decided to closer their ties with the European Union. 

At the same time, while promoting the resolution, the Russian parliamentary party “Homeland”, who’s leader is the Deputy Prime-Minister, hosted this year in Saint-Petersburg the “International Russian Conservative Forum” (22 March 2015).

This forum gathered in one place representatives of almost all Europe’s neo-Nazis, extreme nationalists and anti-Semites.

Mr. Chair,

Ukraine condemns this cynical attempt of the Russian Federation to present itself as a champion of combating Nazism and neo-Nazism while repeating those same crimes against entire nations.

We are deeply concerned with the deteriorating situation in Russia and state propaganda of racism, racial discrimination and superiority of “Russian world”, xenophobia, related intolerance to other nations as well as glorification of totalitarian regimes and its leaders.  

Bearing in mind the propaganda motives of the resolution, Ukraine has decided to vote “against” this draft resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Chair