By KYIV. May 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Universal Postal Union (UPU) on May 12 adopted a resolution on the exclusion of the Russian Federation from the post of co-chairman of the Customs Commission, according to a statement on the website of the Ukrainian state-owned postal operator JSC Ukrposhta.
"This decision is justified by the fact that "the military actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine complicated the provision of the above-mentioned postal services and put the lives of postal personnel in Ukraine at risk, which is contrary to the objectives of the Union to ensure the organization and improvement of postal services and promote international cooperation in this area," Ukrposhta said.
Ukrposhta also said that the Postal Operations Council adopted the relevant decision by a majority of votes: 51% for the removal of Russia, 36% of the UPU member countries abstained and 13% opposed the removal of the aggressor country from the post of co-chairman of the Customs Commission.
The initiators of the early removal of Russia from office were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the UK and the United States.
In addition, a number of member countries of the Union have expressed serious concerns about Russia’s current ability to achieve results based on consensus among the broadest circles of the Union’s members and, therefore, its ability to continue to be a co-chair.
In addition, in light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, many member countries of the Union have indicated that they will not be able to interact with the Russian Federation as a co-chair of the aforementioned permanent commission.
In 2021, the chairmanship of the Customs Commission passed to the UK and Russia. The chairmanship of the committee has a term of four years.
The Committee determines the customs policy for the mails of the member countries of the Universal Postal Union, which, in turn, affects the speed of delivery and the simplified regime for all international shipments (import and export).
According to the postal services of the world, the aggressor country, whose military actions in Ukraine have complicated the provision of postal services, cannot make decisions that affect the cooperation of the countries.
