Russian aggression against Ukraine should be condemned

From 5 to 9 July in the Finnish capital hosts the annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA). This year marks 40 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act on Security and Cooperation in Europe – OSCE predecessor.

One of the key topics of discussion at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly this year are Russian action against Ukraine in violation of all the principles enshrined in the Final Act. Taken out to the parliamentary resolution initiated by the delegation of Canada, which determines the actions of Russia against Ukraine as an act of military aggression and called on Moscow to stop sending their regular military units in the eastern Ukrainian regions.

The Russian delegation did not participate in the session of the OSCE PA after Finland denied the right to enter the five Russian parliamentarians whose names are present in the sanctions list of the EU. Among those who touched the prohibition, – the chairman of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin. The remaining 10 members of the Russian delegation in protest refused to participate in the session.

The correspondent of Russian service of “Voice of America” ​​Daniel Galperovich interviewed Senator Roger Wicker, who is a part of the US delegation to Helsinki. Senator Wicker is co-chair of the Helsinki Commission of the US Congress – an independent agency in the federal government of the United States, created to carry out the monitoring the OSCE participating States of their obligations. Two years ago at the initiative of Senator Wicker OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution containing severe criticism of the ban by the authorities of the Russian Federation foreign adoptions.

Daniel Galperovich: Russia, Ukraine, the United States – what is the position of the US delegation in the respect of what happened to Russian here? What do you think – it’s right, or Russia must be represented here?

Rodzher Uiker: I think that Russia decided to create for the Government of Finland the situation, which will not win. If the Finns were allowed to enter the five persons who are listed in the EU and who are denied entry, then it would be doing so they have made a step that runs counter to European sanctions. On the other hand, I think the Russian leadership knew that if Finland fails five persons inadmissible, then it will be possible to wrap in the event, which can be represented by the Russian delegation as deserving sympathy for the victims of the Government of Finland. So I see this as propaganda tactics of the Russian leadership, and I am not surprised by this.

DG .: Resolution of the Russian aggression in Ukraine will be discussed at this session, and that, if approved, will be the second time after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, when it recorded a fact of Russian military aggression against the Ukrainian state. What does this mean in the overall context of international relations? Can I use it in any way?

R.U .: Of course, we in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, no guns or tanks, and I would not have called for them to use. We have the word and the truth. We are going to speak out very strongly. And I agree that it is – the Russian aggression, no question about it. You can come up with whatever excuse, but all around the world, on both sides of the issue, aware that it is an act of aggression: the annexation of strong power – the Russian Federation – in violation of the [principle of] the inviolability of borders of territory of OSCE member countries. It’s outrageous. It is to be condemned, and, quite frankly, is to meet the need and power. I think that’s what President Putin understands – he does not understand the nuances, but understands the power. I think we need to stand firm in their positions as a group that defends the inviolability of frontiers, as a group, which stands for the rule of law in Europe, as well as for human rights and for all the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. We need to stand firmly on its position and call a spade a spade. This is – an act of aggression, it is necessary to stop, and eventually it has to be reversed.

DG: President Putin had just congratulated President Obama on Independence Day. There are some signals from Moscow, they want to talk. For you, this convincing? How will it evolve?

R.U: I think, always engage in dialogue – it’s always good. Therefore, it is a pity to me that the Russian delegation is not present here. It is a pity that the ten members of the delegation, which were not included in the sanctions list, did not agree to stay here so we can talk. It would be better if they sent 15 delegates, which are not included in the sanctions list. That would help. They participated in the last year in Baku, they participated in the year before in Istanbul, they often participated in the meetings of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna. Because it is important to talk, dialogue is important, the Minsk process is important. But, frankly, today more needed than words.

DG .: You know, many people remember and salute you in connection with the initiative in Istanbul on adoption (Rodzher Uiker initiated the resolution of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, insisted on the continuity of the adoption process, after the Russian ban the adoption of Russian orphans adoptive parents in the United States – D. G.). In Russia, you know as a man who opposed violence. How do you think the situation in Russia is whether to allow adoption of children in the United States?

R.U .: I hope it can be resolved. But, although I am pleased to know that some people recognize my role in this matter, more important it is that the resolution that I introduced the Parliamentary Assembly, was adopted by an overwhelming majority of members of the PA. Therefore, it was not the action of Senator Roger Wicker of the United States. It was the actions and statements of very important organization that, in particular in regard to the situation of street children, the political aspect of the problem should be completely excluded. These are the children were in the process of adoption, they needed a house anywhere, but in their native Russian was not at home for them. Loving mom and dad were ready to take to themselves these children and make them a good future. For me, this is the height of cruelty – to use international dispute between the two governments as a reason,

DG .: And that was long before the Crimean problem.

R.U .: Without a doubt. It was an answer – I see this as a response to the “Magnitsky Act”. But, you know, I felt that the United States and eventually President Obama signing this law sought to make a strong statement as outrageous case of Sergey Magnitsky was a serious violation of the rule of law and human rights. This mid-level tax lawyer just told the truth, said the truth to power. We need more people around the world who are ready to tell the truth. He had no personal goals, he did not try to overthrow the government. He wanted to shed light on the theft committed by civil servants, theft of property, which belonged to the Russian people.

DG .: When an organization based on values ​​- the OSCE or the Council of Europe – one of their members is on the brink of violation of these fundamental values: start a war of aggression against neighboring countries, in this case to do?

R.U .: We agreed – as the Member States – to follow the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. Therefore, when one of the members, whoever it was, decides to violate one of these principles, we must pay attention to this. As I said, we have no right to impose sanctions, we do not have the right to send peacekeeping or military forces, but we can tell the truth. This right is incumbent upon us as members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, to cover these actions and attract the world’s attention to the extremely aggressive, unprovoked and illegal actions of the authoritarian regime, now managing Russia.

Sourse, 07/07/2015