UN passes Russia-initiated resolution against Nazism

Members of the UN human rights commission passed Thursday a resolution against neo-Nazism and neo-fascism, moved forward by Russia in association with Belarus and Cuba. This document denouncing all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and ensuing intolerance, was supported by 46 states of the commission's 53 member-countries, with abstention on the part of the USA, Australia, Japan and Canada.

The commission's session last year resulted in negative attitude toward this resolution by all countries of the European Union as well as the USA and Japan.

"We welcome the fact that the European Union's protracted polemics have ended with the conclusion in favor of support for the project we have submitted," said Russia's ambassador Leonid Skotnikov at the UN department in Geneva.

"This resolution indicates that problems facing member-countries, including certain EU states, should be tackled rather than played down," he added.

The Russian delegation, according to Sotnikov, was regretful of the USA's having failed to support the resolution with reference to the observance of free expression of one's opinion.

The resolution displays deep concern over the glorification of the Nazi movement, including through unveiling monuments and memorials as well as staging mass rallies.

Such practices, goes on the resolution, scar the memory of numerous victims of crimes against humanity committed during World War II, especially in the year of the 60th anniversary of V-Day.

The resolution also urges the UN member-countries to take more effective measures to combat these phenomena and extremist movements.

At the UN human rights commission's Geneva-based 61st session, Russian diplomats called upon Latvia and Estonia to cease the persecution of veteran anti-Nazis and the glorification of Waffen SS league members.