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Published : 31 Mar 2014, 06:17 PM
“I regret that Bangladesh was not able to join the majority on that important issue,” Ambassador Dan Mozena told a press briefing on Monday.
The UN voting, aiming to declare the result of the referendum as invalid was held on Thursday. However, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had not initially cleared its position on the issue.
But Bangladesh's position became clear on Sunday, when the Russian ambassador in Dhaka, Alexander Nikolaev, “thanked” Bangladesh during a seminar.
He said he was “grateful” to Bangladesh for abstaining from voting.
There were 100 votes in favour of the resolution, 11 against, and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly. Two dozen countries did not take part either because they did not show up or because they have not paid their dues, Reuters had reported.
The US ambassador on Monday said that he saw the vote as crucial because it made it clear that “international community does not accept the annexation of Crimea by Russia”.
Washington is upset with nations which did not go with the majority in voting for the UN resolution that seeks to let Russia know 'the disapproval of the global community', though the resolution is not binding.
Mozena, however, said US policy was to engage with Bangladesh for 'mutual benefit' of both countries.
Russia earlier said the Mar 16 Crimean referendum had fully conformed to democratic procedures and international norms.
President Vladimir Putin called it as “reunification”.
Bangladesh foreign ministry officials earlier told bdnews24.com that Bangladesh avoided UN sessions during such confrontation between major global powers.
Bangladesh earlier abstained from voting in UN sessions on Bosnia, Georgia, and Kosovo.
