The Diplomat
Unidas Podemos is insisting on trying to make its position on the Ukraine crisis clear to the government, according to a letter sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, by the Minister for Social Rights and Agenda 2030, Ione Belarra.
Belarra, who is also secretary general of Podemos, has taken advantage of the powers that the framework of the 2030 Agenda gives her in terms of peace and understanding between peoples, to propose to her cabinet colleague Albares a “Peace Agenda” in view of the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Although the vice-president Yolanda Díaz acknowledged that in the aforementioned crisis “the voice of the Government is that of Pedro Sánchez”, thus lowering the critical tone of the coalition leaders for the alignment of the Executive with NATO’s positions, Ione Belarra once again marks differences in the 16-point document she has sent to Albares.
As its main points, it calls for a mutual withdrawal of troops deployed in the area, to avoid “building an image of mutual enmity” between the European Union and Russia, and to cease supporting NATO’s eastward enlargement, one of the main demands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In this letter, the Minister for Social Rights provides aspects that she considers can contribute to guaranteeing a de-escalation of the conflict “through dialogue and diplomacy”, reports Europa Press.
She recalls that, since the beginning of 2022, there has been an increase in tension in the area, with movements of Russian troops to its borders with Ukraine, “crossed” declarations and movements of NATO troops in Eastern Europe. “The conflict has entered a new and even more dangerous phase in which there is a risk that any incident could trigger a military conflict between nuclear powers,” he says.
To avoid such consequences, he proposes a package of measures from a “realistic, European perspective and inspired by “the spirit” of the coalition agreement, which “would have the support of a broad social majority” in the country. Among these measures she points to promoting a “mutually agreed” withdrawal of troops and de-escalating “the language used by the media, governments and parties involved in the conflict”.
Just yesterday Belarra stressed at an event in León that the progressive government should follow the mandate given by the citizens with the ‘No to war’ vote in 2003. And last Wednesday she stressed that the way forward is dialogue and not “bellicose gestures”.
On the other hand, he urged that all multilateral mechanisms (such as the Normandy Quartet, the OSCE and the UN) should be strengthened and that diplomatic channels and dialogue should be pursued, and “not by sending troops and threatening sanctions”.
Furthermore, he affirms that the recognition of Ukraine’s national sovereignty “will not be an obstacle” for Spain and its EU partners to stop promoting NATO’s eastward enlargement.
It also alludes to promoting full compliance with the Minsk Agreements and supporting the diplomatic efforts of France and Germany in the Normandy Quartet negotiations as the best means of continuing to build a coordinated position.
Finally, the document drafted by Derechos Sociales calls for a ban on the sale of arms and war material in cases of conflict, including an audit of the application of the Spanish arms trade law and the International Arms Trade Treaty.
It also calls for the promotion of denuclearisation, the implementation of the UN resolutions on Women, Peace and Security in conflict situations regarding the inclusion of the gender perspective and the participation of women in conflict resolution and peace processes, protection against sexual violence and the promotion of women’s rights.
Finally, it calls for the strengthening of reception processes for asylum seekers in Spain and the EU, establishing legal and safe channels for people from Ukraine who need them.
