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Due to the illegal attack on Ukraine, 35 sport ministers have called on international federations to suspend members from Russia and Belarus.
Norway, United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, US, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden have all signed on for the call for the suspension.
France, the host of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has agreed, as have three other future Olympic hosts the US, Australia, and Italy.
I continue to establish relations with an important region – Latin America. Talked with President @alferdezprensa, thanked for humanitarian aid, condemnation of Russian aggression and suspension of Russian membership in the #UN Human Rights Council.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 1, 2022
Many Russian and Belarusian athletes have already been shunned from competition due to the war. And certainly, Russia has been suspended from international sport due to systematic doping, except for some who have been able to compete for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC has not suspended the Russian Olympic Committee or National Olympic Committee of Belarus, and no action has been taken against Russian IOC members. However, IOC President Thomas Bach has changed his stance a little and sees the potential suspensions as a positive move.
World Customs Organization issues statement on Russia
In May, the World Customs Organization issued a statement to suspend Russia.
A Joint Statement from European countries calls for action in five areas, namely:
- to limit, restrict or otherwise effectively suspend the participation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in the work of the WCO
- to replace any Russian or Belarusian Chairs and Vice-Chairs of WCO working bodies, including the Policy Commission, Finance Committee, and Audit Committee
- to limit/suspend the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in all World Customs Organization’s working bodies and their access to the World Customs Organization premises and activities
- to suspend all World Customs Organization’s-supported funding programs for the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus
- to seek to discontinue providing access to information on enforcement or terrorism to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus
UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council
The resolution received a two-thirds majority of those voting, minus abstentions, in the 193-member Assembly, with 93 nations voting in favour and 24 against.
Fifty-eight abstained from the process.
Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Vietnam, were among those who voted against it.
Those abstaining, included India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
The meeting marked the resumption of a special emergency session on the war in Ukraine and followed reports of violations committed by Russian forces.
Read the story here>>
Russia to be suspended from OPEC
Some Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) members are considering suspending Russia as western sanctions hurt the nation’s ability to produce, according to the Wall Street Journal in April citing Opec delegates.
Exempting Russia could allow Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Opec members to produce more oil to meet global production targets.
Oil prices have soared since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and countries including the US have urged a hike in production to bring prices down. Currently, in Western Canada a litre of oil is $2.15, which is down from a high of $2.39 — unprecedented numbers that make the delivery of goods and services and the consumption of gas, oil, and other petroleum products out of reach for many.
In the UK the price is 2.21 per pound. In the US, drivers are paying nearly $9 USD per gallon or $2.32/litre.
Russia the third-largest producer of oil was scheduled to produce more, but there is this war going on.
Denmark’s largest energy company said Russia cut off its gas supply on Wednesday because it refused to pay in rubles.
Russia previously halted natural gas supplies to Finland, Poland and Bulgaria for refusing for the same reason. And on Tuesday, the tap was turned off to the Netherlands.
Danish energy company Orsted said it still expected to be able to serve its customers.
“We stand firm in our refusal to pay in rubles, and we’ve been preparing for this scenario,” Orsted CEO Mads Nipper said.
“The situation underpins the need of the EU becoming independent of Russian gas by accelerating the build-out of renewable energy.”
