Belarus votes against allowing Zelensky to deliver pre-recorded UN speech

September 17, BPN. Belarus, Cuba, Eritrea, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia and Syria on September 16 voted against the UN General Assembly’s decision to allow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to deliver a pre-recorded video address to the annual gathering of world leaders.

It was passed with 101 votes in favor and 19 abstentions, the UN press service reported. The General Assembly decided that this would be an exception, not a precedent for future key debates.

The decision cited reasons beyond world leaders’ control “owing to ongoing foreign invasion, aggression, military hostilities that do not allow safe departure from and return to their countries, or the need to discharge their national defense and security duties and functions.”

The assembly voted down Belarus’ proposal that all member states should be eligible for remote participation.

Zelensky’s address is scheduled for September 21.