Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday.
Zimmer, who is the Conservative shadow minister for Northern Affairs and Arctic Sovereignty and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, made the statement during the international organization’s hybrid winter meeting in Vienna, Austria.
“Our hearts are with our friends in Ukraine today as they face a frightening and uncertain future. Canadians stand with you,” Zimmer said, according to statement released by his office. “We share our European neighbours’ concerns around the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in the strongest of terms condemn the actions of Russia. We in Canada have observed with great concern the increasing interest in the Canadian Arctic and its resources also and are concerned. “
Zimmer was one of 28 international parliamentarians at the meeting to condemn Russia’s actions and call for Russia to withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.
“Russia – to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. As stated by our former Parliamentary colleague prime minister Harper, you are a bully and ‘must be dealt with like all bullies; with resolute unity and force,’” Zimmer said. “Again, to our Ukrainian friends, Canadians stand with you.”
Organization chairperson and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau called on Russia to honour its international obligations and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“Russia’s unprovoked all-out invasion against Ukrainian cities and villages constitutes a fundamental breach of the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act,” Rau said, according to a statement issued by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly. “Invoking article 51 of the UN Charter to justify this crime against humanity is deplorable and shameful. We condemn, in the strongest possible words, this act of aggression. Any sustainable, political solution must fully respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine.”
