Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United Nations John Silk, seated at right with members of the Marshall Islands delegation, in the General Assembly hall in New York last October following the country's election to the UN Human Rights Council. Photo: Supplied
The Marshall Islands and Palau joined Russia and the United States in voting Monday against a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly about Ukraine, which called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
While the official UN voting board showed Marshall Islands and Palau as the only Pacific Islands to vote with Russia on this resolution (as reported by The Pacific Newsroom earlier in the week), Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United Nations John Silk clarified the vote.
In response to an inquiry from the Marshall Islands Journal, Silk said the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) "abstained" on the vote for the resolution that called for peace in the Ukraine. The official UN voting record showed 93 in favor, 18 against (including, initially, Marshall Islands) and 65 abstentions from the vote last Monday.
"The Ukraine resolution was most difficult for us this time around and our freely associated state neighbors," Ambassador Silk said. "But to correct the record, the RMI abstained on the resolution."
Silk provided a copy of a voting memo issued by Marshall Islands UN Mission representative Tony Shu stating that "The delegation of Marshall Islands had intended to abstain."
"We made this correction right after the vote," said Silk. "As you know, the RMI has historically voted with the United States at the United Nations on a number of controversial matters, and the RMI, like most of the world, wants to see an end to the war with a just and lasting peace in the region."
The United States also abstained on the measure.
Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United Nations John Silk, seated at right with Climate Envoy Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, gave testimony in December at the International Court of Justice in support of a landmark climate change legal claim filed by Vanuatu. Photo: Supplied
Since it gained UN membership in 1991, the Marshall Islands - like the two other North Pacific nations in free association with the US, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia - has consistently voted with the US at the UN. This has been particularly so on Israel-related UN votes. But, from September to December last year, the Marshall Islands maintained a consistent record of voting for a cease fire in Gaza and in support of a Palestinian state at the United Nations.
Through four votes, the Marshall Islands broke from its decades of lockstep support for Israel and the United States on UN resolutions related to Israel and the Middle East.
Israel voted against the Ukraine resolution this week, while the Marshall Islands once again diverged, abstaining.
"As a Pacific nation, we understand the vital importance of regional stability," Silk said.
"In today's complex global environment, the Marshall Islands is committed to promoting dialogue and diplomatic solutions rather than escalating conflicts.
"We firmly believe that lasting peace can only be achieved through inclusive and constructive dialogue and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country," he added.
