“A disastrous precedent” called the possibility of Russia's exclusion from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO or the old name – the WTO), said the official representative of the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric. According to him, this will affect the entire functioning of the “multilateral system” of tourism.
Recall that in connection with the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, five countries – Ukraine itself, as well as Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and – unexpectedly – Guatemala, which joined it, sent a request to the council to suspend Russia's UNWTO membership. The executive board of the organization supported the holding of an extraordinary General Assembly, where the issue of suspension of Russia's membership will be decided.
Officials respond diplomatically, but wash their hands just in case. “As you know, the Secretary General has no authority over the UN World Tourism Organization, which is a specialized agency of the UN system. This can create a detrimental precedent for the functioning of the multilateral system,” Mr. Dujarric said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Note that at the moment the UNWTO includes 158 participating countries, including Russia. The association positions itself as “an international organization responsible for the general accessibility of tourism and the promising development of the tourism industry.”
Note that the association's statutes stipulate the following: “If the Assembly finds that any member of the Organization is pursuing a policy contrary to the basic objectives of the Organization specified in Article 3 of these Statutes, it may, by a two-thirds majority of the votes of the full members present and voting, adopt a resolution and suspend the exercise by that member of the rights and privileges that belong to him as a member of the Organization.”
With regard to Article 3, she states, inter alia, the following: “The main purpose of the Organization is to promote the development of tourism in order to contribute to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people without distinction of race. , gender, language and religion. In pursuit of this goal, the Organization will pay special attention to the interests of developing countries in the field of tourism.
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