Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a brutal rejection of international law and of the delicate balances guaranteeing the security of the nations of the world. Moreover, it constitutes an indisputable violation of human rights. Already, after a few days of conflict, a significant number of violations of basic rules of international humanitarian law have been recorded, resulting in numerous civilian victims. A hospital was destroyed as well as television installations…
More than 600,000 people have fled Ukraine. The United Nations estimates the number of internally displaced people at one million, a number which could reach more than seven million, according to the same source. The Russian army is at the gates of the capital…
Fortunately, in the face of this aggression, the international reaction and solidarity are both remarkable. Millions of people everywhere and an impressive number of countries have reacted, multiplied gestures of support for Ukraine and adopted unprecedented measures to limit trade with Russia. Eighty countries gave their patronage to the draft resolution (United States and Albania) in the Security Council calling for an immediate end to the fighting. The mobilization is also organized for the reception of refugees.
Let us note, particularly to congratulate it, the attitude of Switzerland which, breaking with its traditional neutrality, has decided to adopt the same economic sanctions as the European Union.
Civil society is also on the frontlines of denouncing Russian aggression (international sports authorities — World Cup, IOC, FIFA, UEFA —, cultural institutions, for example the Biennale of Contemporary Arts in Venice) and, every day there are demonstrations of solidarity with the Ukrainian people all over the world. Moreover, several international organizations and institutions (the European Union, the Council of Europe, the African Union, the Organization of American States, the OECD) quickly denounced this Russian aggression.
The Human Rights Council has decided to hold a special session on the Russian operations. Forty-seven countries, including several French-speaking ones, supported this proposal. The International Criminal Court is considering an investigation into “crimes against humanity” committed in Ukraine. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth has just denounced Russia’s violation of the basic rules of international law and called for the cessation of Russian aggression.
Provocation
For more than fifteen years (2006), Ukraine has been an observer member of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). How can the silence of La Francophonie be explained when one of its members is attacked by a foreign country and when thousands of French-speaking “sympathizers” are affected? Of course, in the event that two French-speaking countries are in conflict, one could understand that, for the sake of neutrality, the authorities of the OIF do not take a public position. In the current war, it is a country foreign to the Francophonie which invades a member country, and nothing can justify this silence!
How to speak about international law, the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human (Personal) Rights without denouncing this war? In this conflict, the limits of “Francophone solidarity” also appeared. The United Arab Emirates is an associate member of the OIF and yet it did not support the resolution in the Security Council which expressed support for another French-speaking country nor the plan to hold a special session of the Human Rights Council. the man.
More worrying: according to the Russian press, during an interview with Putin devoted to measures for the stability of the oil market, the Emirati ruling prince would have “noted the right of Russia to ensure its national security”. We cannot allow a member country to adopt positions that break with the common values affirmed in the Charter of La Francophonie and defended by the latter.
The OIF had planned to hold Francophonie Day in Dubai on March 20. This day is intended to recall the values that unite the member countries and the mobilization of the OIF, in particular for “the establishment and development of democracy, the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, support for the State law and human (personal) rights”. In this context, a speech today seems unthinkable in this country which has refused to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Talking about French-speaking solidarity and the values that unite the Member States in Dubai could only arouse mocking smiles and reactions of indignation! Failing to have denounced the Russian aggression, failing to have expressed its solidarity for one of its members and the Ukrainian people, at least the Francophonie must give up organizing an event which would constitute, in fact, a real provocation! There is still time to break this silence and condemn, loud and clear, this terrible attack on a member of the Francophone community.