China News Agency, Moscow, April 27 (Reporter Tian Bing) The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 27th announcing that Russia has withdrawn from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

　　At present, at the initiative of the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization and with the unconditional support of Western countries, mainly the European Union, a campaign to prevent Russia from participating in the organization's work is being carried out, the statement said.

On March 8 this year, the Executive Committee of the World Tourism Organization held an emergency meeting in Madrid in serious violation of procedures, and the meeting decided to convene a special meeting of the organization's general assembly.

The Russian side does not recognize the results of this meeting of the Executive Committee, nor does it recognize the legitimacy of a special meeting to be held in Madrid on April 27-28 to suspend Russia's membership in the Organization.

　　The statement said that the World Tourism Organization is effectively monopolized by EU countries for its own benefit.

Drawing on massive anti-Russian propaganda, it is pushing for a political decision to blackmail and pressure members of the group.

Russia sees this as an illegal, politically motivated step aimed at blatantly punishing members of the organization that pursue independent domestic and foreign policies.

　　The statement pointed out that Russia believes that continuing to work in the World Tourism Organization is "out of date", and the organization's leadership condones the politicization of its activities and publicly supports discrimination against Russia.

In view of this, Russia decided to withdraw from the World Tourism Organization.

　　The United Nations World Tourism Organization confirmed on the 27th that at the special meeting held in Madrid that day, Russia proposed its intention to withdraw from the organization.

　　Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said on the 27th that withdrawing from the World Tourism Organization will not affect the development of Russian tourism, especially the development of domestic tourism.

　　The United Nations World Tourism Organization is the most influential intergovernmental international tourism organization in the world. It has 159 member countries and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Spain is its depositary country.

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