| There, that'll fix it. Tea? |
[DAWN] The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a Western-backed resolution declaring Crimea's breakaway referendum illegitimate and refusing to recognise Russia's annexation of the peninsula.
The non-binding resolution passed with a comfortable majority in the 193-member body, with 100 votes in favour and 11 votes against. More than 20 countries did not vote.
Ukraine, which drafted the resolution, had urged the international community to back the text, hoping an overwhelming show of support would ward off further Russian intervention on its territory.
"I am convinced that a strong vote today will help to deter further aggressive moves," acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told the assembly.
"It sends an essential message that the international community will not allow what has happened in Crimea to set a precedent to further challenges to our rules," he added.
Western diplomats wanted a strong majority vote to press home what they say is Russia's isolation, but there had been fears that a high number of countries would abstain. |