Briefing by Mr. Yurii Klymenko, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine

(Geneva, March 11, 2014)

 

Excellencies,

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Ukraine is now in the spot of utmost attention and concern over the challenges facing our state and the whole system of European security.

1. As it was repeatedly highlighted by the Ukrainian side, in particular in its statements at the High-level Segments of 25th HRC session and the Conference on Disarmament last week, an unprovoked military invasion of Russian armed forces on the sovereign territory of Ukraine brutally violates the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act, the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Russian Federation of 1997 and a number of other international treaties.

Recent UN Security Council meeting dedicated to the situation in Ukraine explicitly supported territorial integrity of Ukraine, leaving Russian Federation isolated. However, activities of the Russian militaries on the ground testify to an act of overt aggression against Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has blatantly violated the Memorandum on security assurances (known as Budapest memorandum) which provides Ukraine with the explicit guarantees of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within the existing borders in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

The act of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine – a non-nuclear state, which made an unprecedented step and voluntarily renounced the third largest one in the world nuclear arsenal, jeopardizes the credibility of security assurances by nuclear states.

It seriously undermines reinvigorated efforts of international community aimed at strengthening of the non-proliferation regime and engenders its dramatic erosion.

Military invasion of the Russian Federation in the center of Europe and attempts to breach territorial integrity of Ukraine flagrantly undermine the foundations of the European order and the UN collective security.

 

2. On March 1 the Upper House of the Russian Parliament has unanimously authorized the use of military force against Ukraine upon request of the President of the Russian Federation under far-fetched pretext of protecting the Russian minority.

We are witnessing today attempts to substitute obvious facts by upside down biased politically motivated interpretations of the situation in Ukraine.

The framed allegations of violations of the Russian minority's rights are supported with massive propaganda campaign by the Russian media. We see no single evidence of such actions yet, but Russia’s provocative actions in Crimea highly destabilize situation in Europe.

There are neither prerequisites for nor instances of ethnic tensions or discrimination in Ukraine, including with regard to the Russian minority. This statement is solidly proved by all relevant reports of the UN human rights mechanisms, including the Universal periodic review and treaty bodies.

Likewise we unequivocally reject any allegations of anti-Semitism. No ethnically motivated human rights violations during three month long rallies have been recorded nor radical political agenda supported. Just recently the head of the European Jewish Union has joined the new Government of Ukraine, sharing and supporting its unmatched reformist program.

Ethnic Russians and Russian speaking communities, including Jewish ones, have filed numerous petitions attesting that their communities are not experiencing any threats and calling the Russian government to immediately stop military invasion in Ukraine.

All poorly concocted accusations in violation of rights of the Russian minority serve the only goal of justifying an act of aggression against Ukraine.

 

3. The single destabilizing factor in Ukraine today is the presence of illegal Russian servicemen in Crimea and their blatant provocations against legitimate state institutions. Key administrative buildings in Crimea are now blocked not by Ukrainians, who do not support the current government, but by Russian Armed Forces in Crimea.

The Crimean peninsula, an integral part of Ukraine, is being occupied by foreign troops. Fully armed military personnel stream in thousands on Ukrainian territory.

A picture paints a thousand words. Slides on the screen vividly exhibit the current reality in Crimea – military men heavily armed with sophisticated equipment which, in some cases, is exclusively in service of the Russian army. Military vehicles with apparent Russian plates deserve special attention.

The legitimate government of Crimea was violently removed from power. A man with criminal background was installed as a puppet prime-minister. A referendum on the future status of Crimea was called out by the illegitimate Crimean authorities and it is expected to be conducted within unprecedentedly short term - 10 days.

We have to state absolutely clear that any local referendum on territorial issues is unconstitutional and illegitimate under the Constitution of Ukraine.

The question of change in the territory of Ukraine is to be resolved exclusively at national referendum. Thus, the decision by the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to hold the referendum was illegal and its outcome is void.

There is no doubt about the nature of rigged “results” to be achieved at gunpoint of the invader and in violation of Ukrainian and international laws.

By the request of Ukraine the international organizations (UN, OSCE) have sent monitoring missions to Crimea in order to assess situation on the ground and to establish the facts of foreign intervention in Ukraine.

Regrettably, the entry of the international observers into the territory of Crimea was brutally blocked by militaries, forcing them to leave the region.

 

4. Despite that alarming background the political crisis in Ukraine is definitely over.

De-escalation of the political tension in Ukraine and its implementation is a top priority for the parliament and new government who nowadays undertake all necessary steps aimed at implementation of the Agreement on the Settlement of Crisis.

Recent major decisions of the Parliament are thoroughly discussed with all parties representing all regions of Ukraine and are adopted by near constitutional majority of votes. Open and constructive dialogue between all regions of Ukraine is today a key in securing political stability and economic reforms.

Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada and government.

The new “government of technocrats” endorsed by more than constitutional majority of members of the Parliament, is focused on implementing urgent reforms, with promotion and protection of all human rights being an integral and indispensable part of its programme of work.

This interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people, who will shepherd the country towards presidential elections on May 25th – elections that will allow all Ukrainians to have a voice in the future of their country.

Accountability for the flagrant crimes committed during the protests and bringing all perpetrators to justice constitute its indivisible part. Thorough investigations of crimes and human rights violations have been immediately initiated and are well under way. And we invite all the relevant organizations - the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe to use their expertise, assistance and accumulated knowledge to ensure – in cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities – that all responsible for human rights violations are brought to account.

Let me draw your attention to the invitation extended by Ukraine to the OSCE's and Council of Europe's special missions to check proper observance of the rights of the citizens of Ukraine of all nationalities and religious denominations in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and other regions of Ukraine.

 

5. Ukrainian Government has been consistently emphasizing its readiness to negotiate with the Russian Federation at all levels to settle the conflict situation in the Crimea. In our understanding it is necessary to establish a mechanism, a platform for the negotiations to resolve all controversial issues.

Ukraine is consciously avoiding provocations by the Armed Forces of Russia in the Crimea and is taking action for exclusively peaceful settlement of the crisis.

There is still a chance to stop a tragedy.

Ukraine is ready to talk. Ukraine is ready to involve international negotiators.

But there is one thing for which Ukraine will never be ready – to give in to aggression.

 

6. Crimea is Ukraine! We won’t accept any kind of staged “referendum” under the guns of an invader. We will never give up on Crimea and never put up with this kind of violent behavior. We urge the world to yield to no pressure of the invader who broke its signature under fundamental international agreements.

If this can be done to Ukraine – it can be done to any other country. If this is allowed to happen – there are no rules and no laws.

We appeal to the world – support us in this very challenging situation, in your words and in your deeds. Don’t be silent. Don’t ask for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for you. For it’s not only about Ukraine. It’s about the rules the world abides by.

I would like to express gratitude from the depth of my heart to the countries and international organizations as well as all who expressed solidarity with Ukraine at these extremely challenging times.

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.

We appeal to Russia:

Stop the military intervention and abide by the commitments under the UN Charter. Stop instigating extremism or provoking ethnic tensions in Ukraine.

Don’t destroy the bounds that connect our peoples!

Don’t create another hotbed of tension in your surroundings!

Ukraine is not an enemy of Russia and does not want to become one.