Western powers had to "twist the arms" of some 50 countries to get their support for the UN General Assembly resolution on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sergei Brilev's Vesti v Subbotu (News on Saturday) television programme on March 29.
"This is done using different ways. For starters, our Ukrainian neighbours were advised to make the text as non-confrontational and balanced as it could only be and to state 'positively' that the territorial integrity of Ukraine should be respected. Who would have objected? But that's not even a half of the truth, it's just a tiny bit of it… after that, counting on one's naivete, they say: 'What a good resolution! Just sign it and become a co-author," Lavrov said.
"To others, who are more experienced and understand what this means, they say: 'If you do not support this resolution, you will face consequences. And specify what they will be like. We know this. Colleagues come and tell us privately why this or that minor country had to give in. For example, certain contracts will not be signed or political dividends will be recalled. Since the Western group, in its broad meaning, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan and some other countries, is composed of some 40-odd countries, they 'twisted the arms' of about 50 other countries or convinced them in other ways," Lavrov said.
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"Many complained that they were experiencing enormous pressure from Western powers to make them vote in support of this resolution," he said, adding that "the pressure produced certain effect". "Some countries voted grudgingly, shall I say, and complained to us about the strong pressure they had experienced," the diplomat said.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_29/West-twisted-arms-of-50-countries-to-get-support-for-UN-resolution-on-Ukraine-Lavrov-2331/
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