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Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Bock criticised Russia for blocking UN efforts to combat climate change.
Russia, which is a permanent UN Security Council member and has the right to veto, blocked the passage of an important resolution to combat climate change. Moscow argued that the proposal was the result of countries that have done most to damage the climate, and is now seeking sanctions against those who have done less.
Baerbock described the move as “regrettable,” and stated that it was entirely within the UN security Council’s purview, because “we are able to see worldwide, just like we see in Europe,” how the climate crisis is exacerbating conflicts.
The Green Party politician called the climate change “a driver of violence in areas that are already fragile.”
India, which does NOT have veto power on the resolution, also voted against it, while China abstained.
Baerbock calls to create a ‘new momentum” for nuclear disarmament
Germany’s top diplomat was speaking on the sidelines of an anti-weapons proliferation conference in Sweden. She said that the anti armour movement “urgently requires new momentum” but promised that Europe would play an important role in creating a “safe and secure world.”
Baerbock confirmed that her Green Party’s new governing coalition, the Social Democrats (SPD), along with the neoliberal Free Democrats(FDP), would seek membership in the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty as an observer country.
She stated that summits should not be used to just talk but to create concrete change.
The foreign minister stated that “we cannot afford another conference without tangible results.”
She praised leaders and activists who had created a plan to “make the world safer against nuclear weapons step-by-step.” She stated that the summit was intended to ensure that this path is followed.
Baerbock’s remarks were made in light of the US withdrawing from several major disarmament agreements in recent years, including the landmark INF agreement which was dissolved in 2019. Former President Donald Trump accused Moscow at the time of not adhering to the treaty’s rules.
Only one US-Russian non-proliferation agreement remains. The New Start Strategic Disarmament Treaty allows both countries’ nuclear arsenals to contain 800 delivery systems each and 1,550 deployable nukes.
es / fb – AFP, dpa
