Remarks in exercise of the right of reply
by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
at the ai 2 General Debates of the 26th session
of the Human Rights Council
(Geneva, June 10, 2014)
Mr. President,
My delegation requested the floor to reply to the statement made by the Russian Federation on the situation in Ukraine under agenda item 2.
We would like to emphasize that the first priority of the newly elected President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is implementation of his already announced peace plan to resolve the situation in the Eastern regions.
The plan includes disarmament of everyone who illegally took arms, exemption from criminal responsibility for those who do not have blood of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians on their hands and for those who is not involved in funding terrorism. It also envisages controlled corridor for Russian mercenaries who would like to return home. But at the core of the Plan – a continuation of the broad national dialogue on the issues of decentralization of power, early local elections in Donbas and the package of economic reforms.
Three roundtables of national unity already have been carried out in Ukraine.
Regarding the threat of humanitarian disaster in the East of Ukraine we are more than confident – when the Russian Federation will stop its aggressive subversive and destabilization activities in the Eastern regions of my country, including direct support of terrorists with arms, training and supply of militants, very soon the humanitarian situation will normalize.
As to the anti-terrorist operation, which is rightful and legitimate, its only purpose is securing sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and restoring law and order in the face of interference into Ukraine's internal affairs across the Eastern border. The anti-terrorist operation is conducted in a proportionate and measured approach as it was recently assessed by the G7 leaders.
Investigation of crimes and grave human rights violations committed in Ukraine since November 2013, including mentioned Odessa tragedy, is one of the key and principle priorities for the Ukrainian Government. Being open to cooperation with the OHCHR and other reputable organizations in the sphere of human rights, we are working closely with independent international experts to ensure that such investigations bring all responsible to accountability.
I thank you.