Lithuania has cancelled its decision to donate Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh over the country’s abstention during the United Nations General Assembly vote on condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported the development on Monday citing Rasa Jakilaitienė, a spokeswoman for the Baltic country’s prime minister.
Earlier in the week, the government decided to send 4,44,600 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that demands Russia to “immediately” withdraw from Ukraine.
After more than two days of debate, which saw the Ukrainian ambassador accuse Russia of genocide, 141 out of 193 UN member states voted in favour of the non-binding resolution.
Four South Asian countries — Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan — were among 35 abstentions in the vote.
A few days before the vote, Bangladesh urged for restraint by all parties and to immediately resume diplomatic efforts and dialogue in order to settle all disputes by peaceful means, and refrain from taking any action that may endanger international peace and security.
“Bangladesh expresses its full support and confidence in the good offices of the Secretary General of the United Nations, and calls upon him to undertake all efforts to initiate dialogue with a view to ending the hostilities and military operations in Ukraine,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement.
