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 The disclosures about Russian threats came after Moscow accused
Western countries of using "shameless pressure, up to the point of
political blackmail and economic threats," in an attempt to coerce
the United Nations' 193 member states to join it in supporting the
non-binding resolution on the Ukraine crisis.
According to interviews with U.N. diplomats, most of whom preferred
to speak on condition of anonymity for fear of angering Moscow, the
targets of Russian threats included Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan as well as a number of African countries.
A spokesman for Russia's Mission to the U.N. denied that Moscow
threatened any country with retaliation if it supported the
resolution, saying: "We never threaten anyone. We just explain the
situation."
According to the diplomats, the Russian threats were not specific.
But they said it was clear to the recipients of the warnings not to
support the resolution that retaliatory measures could include steps
such as expelling migrant workers from Russia, halting natural gas
supplies or banning certain imports to Russia to cause economic
harm.
In the end, the Ukrainian resolution declaring Crimea's vote on
March 16 in favor of seceding from Ukraine as having "no validity"
passed with 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions.
Another 24 U.N. member states did not cast votes.
Western diplomats called the result a diplomatic success for
Ukraine. A similar General Assembly vote was held in 2008 after
Russia went to war with Georgia over its breakaway enclave South
Ossetia, which later declared independence and has unsuccessfully
sought annexation to Russia. That resolution was adopted with a mere
14 votes in favor, 11 against and 105 abstentions.
Although the General Assembly resolution is non-binding — unlike
Security Council resolutions — Russia and the Western powers went to
great efforts to persuade delegations to vote with them. Earlier
this month, Russia vetoed a resolution in the Security Council that
was similar to the General Assembly text.
The United States and European delegations said the result of
Thursday's vote highlighted Russia's isolation on the issue of
Crimea.
Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovich, backed by Russia, was
ousted last month after a crackdown on demonstrations in Kiev that
left dozens dead. His ousting prompted Moscow to seize the peninsula
on the Black Sea in a move that predominantly Russian-speaking
Crimeans embraced in their plebiscite that overwhelmingly favored
annexation to Russia.
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW
The delegations of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan did not respond to a
request from Reuters for comment about the alleged Russian threats
of retaliation. Both countries were among the 24 countries that did
not cast votes on Wednesday.
But the Ambassador of Moldova to the U.N., Vladimir Lupan, agreed to
speak about the issue. Asked if the Russians had given any
indication, direct or indirect, that the former Soviet republic
could be punished for a yes vote, Lupan said: "I wasn't present at
this particular discussion and I can neither infer nor confirm this
to you."
"And normally before you vote, you discuss this with a number of
countries," he told Reuters. "This matter was indeed discussed
between the Moldovan authorities and the Russian authorities. We
also discussed this with our (European Union) partners."
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"Of course, we had two different points of view — one from the
Russian Federation in favor of a no vote and, for example, the
European Union in favor of a positive vote," Lupan said, adding that
his country was attempting to resolve all outstanding issues with
Russia peacefully and through dialogue. Several diplomats told
Reuters that Moldova was among the countries subjected to pressure
from Moscow ahead of the vote. In the end, the Moldovan delegation
defied Russia and joined Ukraine, the United States, the EU and
other Western powers in voting yes.
Lupan also said the West had not threatened Moldova.
Moldova is in a precarious situation as its pro-Europe leader warned
in an interview with Reuters of "a series of provocations" from
breakaway Russian-speaking Transdniestria, which has been identified
by NATO as a possible next target for Russia after it sent troops
into Ukraine.
Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca told Reuters that Russia's
annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula "might raise expectations"
in Moldova's rebel region, a sliver of land that broke away with the
collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
Some African diplomats also did not respond to queries, but Rwanda's
deputy U.N. ambassador, Olivier Nduhungirehe, vehemently denied that
Kigali was threatened. "I don't know where this came from," he told
Reuters.
Ivory Coast's Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba also denied being
pressured by Moscow.
Like many African states, Rwanda abstained from the vote, while
Ivory Coast did not participate.
Russia is not the only country accused of strong-arm tactics at the
United Nations. Ahead of important decisions on the 15-member U.N.
Security Council, diplomats say the big powers have been known to
attempt to "buy" votes from the 10 non-permanent members with a
combination of carrots and sticks.
The United States, diplomats say, has in the past punished countries
that refused to stand with it on the Security Council for crucial
votes. After Yemen voted against a council resolution authorizing
the use of force against Iraq in 1991 to expel it from Kuwait,
Washington cut off millions of dollars in aid to Sanaa.
French Ambassador Gerard Araud was asked about Russia's allegation
that Western powers had blackmailed U.N. member states to secure a
strong vote in favor of the Crimea text.
"When you lose, you have to be a good a loser," he told reporters
outside the Security Council. "I think Russia is a bad loser. They
lost and they did by 100 votes."
(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau)
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