25th Session of the Human Rights Council
General Segment
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
(Geneva, March 6, 2014)
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ukraine is now in the spot of utmost attention and concern over the challenges facing my country.
The most acute one is the continuing presence of a large grouping of the Russian armed forces which illegally entered the territory of Ukraine under far-fetched pretext of protecting the Russian-speaking community.
We demand from the Russian Federation to stop the military intervention and to abide by its commitments under the UN Charter, to avoid steps which could instigate extremism or provoke ethnic tensions in Ukraine.
Despite that alarming background the political crisis in my country is definitely over. Outcome of 3 months’ protests has manifested a momentous change in the destiny of the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainians from every region of the country proved that values of liberty, democracy and solidarity are deeply engrained in their character. That they cannot tolerate injustice, corruption, oppression and violence and are ready to struggle for their rights and freedoms.
The new “government of technocrats”– not the “government of winners” as some called it in this room, endorsed by more than constitutional majority of members of Parliament, is focused on implementing urgent reforms.
Promotion and protection of all human rights is an integral and indispensable part of its programme of work.
The Agreement on the Settlement of Crisis of February 21 continues to be a key roadmap for further stabilization of political situation in Ukraine.
The Parliament created a special commission, based on the principle of broad and inclusive representation, on preparation of a draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, effectively launching a relevant reform as envisaged in the mentioned Agreement.
Another commission based on the same principle established by the Parliament of Ukraine should prepare a draft law on the language policy in Ukraine. The corresponding draft bill is to be worked out by March 30 and sent for the Venice Commission’s assessment. I would also like to remind that acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov earlier vetoed the recent Parliament’s bill cancelling the 2012 Law “On the principles of the state language policy” that is currently in force.
Thorough investigations of crimes and human rights violations committed since November 2013 have been immediately initiated. Bringing all perpetrators to accountability and ensuring normalization of life in Ukraine is a principal priority for the new government.
Recently launched campaign for voluntary handing over of firearms and ammunition constitutes another important step in implementation of the said Agreement.
So far, in spite of the abovementioned challenges, we are confident that with appropriate backing of international community in guarantying the sovereignty and territorial integrity of my country as well as in resolving uneasy economic problems, Ukraine will keep the difficult but right track we are back on.
I thank you.