ZAGREB, 5 March 2022 - The Russian aggression against Ukraine is certainly a blow to the UN's authority, Croatia's Ambassador to the UN, Ivan Šimonović, said on Saturday, noting that Moldova could be Russia's next target.
"The question is who guards the guardians? If permanent members of the Security Council are guardians of peace and security, who will protect us from them when they violate peace and security?" Šimonović asked in an interview with Croatian Radio.
He ruled out the possibility of the UN sending peace troops to Ukraine, which can be done if requested by one of the warring parties, which Šimonović described as improbable, or by a decision of the Security Council.
"But Russia has the right of veto there and we are again back to square one," he added.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution asking that Russia immediately stop using force in Ukraine.
Šimonović, a former Assistant UN Secretary-General for human rights, said that was the only way to exert pressure on Russia because in the General Assembly it does not have the right of veto.
Clear legal terminology was used, the operation involving the Russian Federation, and Belarus as an accomplice, was called aggression, and aggression is crime. Russia is becoming more and more isolated, said Šimonović.
The General Assembly resolution, however, does not have direct legal consequences.
"Only Security Council resolutions adopted under Chapter VII are legally binding and force may also be used to implement them," he said, adding that the steps the UN can take at the moment are very limited.
Everyone loses
The diplomat called the invasion of Ukraine a situation in which everyone loses.
"The consequences for Ukraine - from the loss of human lives to material destruction - are already very bad, and what could follow - urban warfare - would be a disaster of epic proportions," he said.
"That is a tragedy for Russia in terms of how much its economy will be affected, isolated and left to the mercy of China, which is its sole orientation," Šimonović said, adding that China, too, would distance itself from Russia if it was left isolated by the rest of the world.
Croatia, too, will be affected in terms of its tourism industry, and since it is part of Europe, where energy prices will go up, its citizens will feel the consequences of the Russian invasion as a drop in living standards, Šimonović believes.
Moldova next possible target
The Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday that civilians would be able to leave the port city of Mariupol through a humanitarian corridor to be open for five hours, which Šimonović called "the only positive contribution of the negotiations" that "would alleviate the suffering of people at least to some extent."
Šimonović also mentioned Moldova as the next possible target of Russian aggression.
"The south wing of the Russian attack that now goes in the direction of Mykolaiv and Odessa could also be going in the direction of Transnistria, that is, occupied areas of Moldova controlled by pro-Russian forces," said Šimonović.
"Quite certainly Moldova is not sleeping peacefully either," he concluded
