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Russia is not ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ – US ambassador | Russia is not ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ – US ambassador |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The country does not fit America’s criteria for such a designation, according to Washington’s envoy for global criminal justice | The country does not fit America’s criteria for such a designation, according to Washington’s envoy for global criminal justice |
The US cannot designate Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism” since it does not fit the relevant criteria, the US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack, told a briefing on Tuesday. She was commenting on a similar initiative by European lawmakers. | |
The EU parliament adopted a resolution calling Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism” on Wednesday. | The EU parliament adopted a resolution calling Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism” on Wednesday. |
“The designation of a state sponsor of terror in terms of the way US law defines it is not a good match for Russia here,” Van Schaack told journalists. He added that Washington is currently “exploring other potential designations” that would allow it to potentially impose further sanctions on Moscow. | |
According to Van Schaack, such a label would not be necessary since the US is already “utilizing our sanctions to an incredible degree.” | According to Van Schaack, such a label would not be necessary since the US is already “utilizing our sanctions to an incredible degree.” |
The non-binding resolution by the EU parliament was supported by 494 MEPs while 58 voted against and 44 abstained. The text stressed that Russia’s attacks on “the civilian population of Ukraine [and] the destruction of civilian infrastructure” amounted to “war crimes” and “acts of terror.” | |
The document also called on Brussels to develop a relevant legal framework allowing it to officially brand entire nations as sponsors of terrorism, adding that it is currently not possible. | The document also called on Brussels to develop a relevant legal framework allowing it to officially brand entire nations as sponsors of terrorism, adding that it is currently not possible. |
The resolution also demanded what it called the “comprehensive international isolation” of Russia, including the further reduction of diplomatic relations and the swift adoption of a new round of sanctions. “Contacts with its official representatives at all levels (should) be kept to the absolute minimum necessary,” the document stated. | The resolution also demanded what it called the “comprehensive international isolation” of Russia, including the further reduction of diplomatic relations and the swift adoption of a new round of sanctions. “Contacts with its official representatives at all levels (should) be kept to the absolute minimum necessary,” the document stated. |
On Tuesday, Van Schaack said the US is “very interested in what the Europeans are doing,” adding that such a resolution “carries great weight.” The EU parliament's document is largely symbolic as it does not impose any legal commitments on Brussels. | |
On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry blasted any such designations as a way for the West to legitimize “unilateral coercive measures” against their perceived adversaries. | |
“A number of nations representing the ‘collective West’ use such labels as a ‘terrorist state,’ ‘terrorist regime’ or a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ to designate those nations [they consider] ‘unwelcome’ and not fitting their warped perceptions of democracy,” Ivan Nechayev, the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Department, told the Russian media. | “A number of nations representing the ‘collective West’ use such labels as a ‘terrorist state,’ ‘terrorist regime’ or a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ to designate those nations [they consider] ‘unwelcome’ and not fitting their warped perceptions of democracy,” Ivan Nechayev, the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Department, told the Russian media. |