Spain, one of the sponsoring countries of the decision agreed by the Assembly, had already advanced in the meeting of the UNWTO Executive Council on March 8 that it would support the suspension of Russia as a member if Putin could not put an end to Ukraine's aggression. .
![[Img # 47071]](https://empresaexterior.com/upload/images/04_2022/2271_espana-apoya-la-suspension-temporal-de-la-membresia-de-rusia-como-miembro-de-la-omt_cr.jpg)
The General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (OMT) has decided to temporarily suspend the membership of Russia of the organization due to the military offensive that it maintains in Ukraine, in an extraordinary meeting held in Madrid and chaired by Spain in its capacity as host country.
“The military offensive of Putin violates the founding principles of the United Nations and the values that tourism represents, such as peace, prosperity and universal respect, and the observance of human rights. We continue to demand the immediate cessation of hostilities and the return to diplomatic and peaceful means to resolve disputes,” defended the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, who chaired the session. Maroto welcomed the fact that the Assembly has decided to “comply with the principles” to which all its members committed when joining the organization, “such as the promotion of peace and understanding between all the nations of the world through tourism.” .
Spain, one of the sponsoring countries of the decision agreed upon by the Assembly, had already made progress in the meeting of the UNWTO Executive Council on March 8 that he would support the suspension of Russia as a member if Putin could not end Russia's aggression Ukraine.
Reyes Maroto: “Putin's military offensive attacks the founding principles of the United Nations and the values that tourism represents, such as peace, prosperity and universal respect, and the observance of human rights”
The temporary suspension of Russia's membership as a member of the UNWTO will prevent it from exercising its rights and benefiting from the privileges conferred by membership, including participation in the organization's meetings. However, the resolution approved by the Assembly contemplates, in accordance with article 34 of the Statutes, that this suspension be lifted when the Assembly perceives “a change in the policy of the Russian Federation”. In such a case, the procedure for Russia to regain its UNWTO membership will follow the same procedure as the suspension of membership.
The resolution approved by the Assembly for the temporary suspension of Russia was presented by Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Countries Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Ukraine.
