MADRID, March 8 (Reuters) – The United Nations tourism body said on Tuesday it would vote in coming days to temporarily suspend Russia’s membership in the organization over the invasion of Ukraine by the country.

The executive board of the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) met on Tuesday to take the unprecedented decision to call for a vote on a country’s membership, it said in a statement. communicated.

At the meeting, held in Madrid at the request of several members such as Colombia, Lithuania and Poland, most agreed to hold the vote amid concerns and global condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine. .

The first ever UNWTO Extraordinary General Assembly will be convened in the coming days.

“If you are a member, you agree to abide by our rules. And you must adhere to our values,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “When members go against our goals, there must be consequences.”

Spain is one of the countries that will support Russia’s temporary suspension from membership if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not end “cruel and unjustified aggression” against Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said. Tourism Reyes Maroto during the UNWTO meeting, according to a government statement.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”.

Reporting by Corina Pons; Editing by Catarina Demony and Mark Porter

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