Заява делегації України з мотивів голосування за проєкт резолюції "Сприяння міжрелігійному та міжкультурному діалогу, порозумінню та співпраці заради миру».

The delegation of Ukraine would like to make an explanation of vote with regard to the draft resolution A/76/L.21, entitled “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace”.

We thank the Philippines and Pakistan for presenting the text on this important topic. Ukraine acknowledges the importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogue for the purposes of peace and has always been a part of international efforts to this end.

Ukraine supports all steps to promote tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and religious pluralism. At the same time, it is critical to ensure the freedom of expression, the freedom to hold opinions, including on religion.

In this regard Ukraine does not support the idea of inclusion to the text of the draft Resolution of the reference to the intentions of the Interparliamentary Union to hold in the Russian Federation the World Conference on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue.

Regrettably, the Russian Federation attempts to make all international events it hosts serve the goal of whitewashing its aggressive policies against the sovereign states and repressive practices in the occupied areas, including in the religious and cultural domains.

Ongoing pressure exerted upon religious communities remains a daily routine for people in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea, city of Sevastopol, territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The occupying power’s toolbox includes frequent police raids, demolition of and eviction from buildings dedicated to religion, undue registration requirements that have affected legal status and property rights and threats against and persecution of those belonging to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, mosques, Muslim religious schools and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Dozens of peaceful Muslims have been convicted under trumped-up charges of allegedly belonging to Islamic organizations.

Adoption of this resolution should not be interpreted as toleration of flagrant human rights violations by the Russian Federation, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.

I thank you