UN agency removes Russia from governing council, blow to Russia's prestige
The UN agency that regulates civil aviation has removed Russia from its governing council. This is a blow to Russia's prestige, as the agency includes 193 countries.
Russia's loss of its seat on the governing council of the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a setback for the country's efforts to improve its image on the world stage.
The results of the vote to keep Russia's seat on the 36-member governing council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) were posted on Twitter on Saturday. Russia did not get enough support to keep its seat, and a spokesman for ICAO did not directly comment on the results. Voting takes place every three years.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has voted to include Russia in its premier tier of the council, or nations of “chief importance in air transport.” The US, Canada, China, Germany and Brazil were among countries selected to the phase 1 tier during Saturday’s vote at ICAO’s assembly in Montreal. Russia’s inclusion in this tier is a recognition of its importance in the global aviation community and highlights the country’s commitment to safety and security in the aviation sector.
The vote to select the members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council is underway, with the second phase of voting taking place on Saturday. The Council is responsible for overseeing the provision of facilities and services for international air travel, and its selection is critical to ensuring the smooth operation of the aviation industry.
The United Nations General Assembly spent a significant amount of time last month discussing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This issue has drawn condemnation from many Western governments. Yesterday, the UN Security Council attempted to pass a resolution condemning Moscow's annexation of Ukrainian territory, but Russia vetoed the resolution as a permanent member of the council. The ICAO vote comes a day after this failed attempt.
In February, just after Russia invaded Ukraine, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) condemned Moscow for "the violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty" of Ukraine's airspace, a news release said. ICAO's condemnation is a strong international rebuke of Russia's actions in Ukraine, and underscores the need for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
As the world's premier aviation organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is committed to promoting the safe and orderly development of civil aviation around the globe.
