65th Session of the Executive Committee of the
UNHCR Programme
Intervention by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
October 2, 2014
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset I would like to commend the High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Guterres and the dedicated staff of the UNHCR for their tireless efforts in helping displaced people in all regions of the world, particularly, in Africa. I also wish to thank the UN for the assistance provided to the Government of Ukraine in aiding internally displaced persons in my country.
The abbreviation “IDP”, mostly unknown earlier to the Ukrainians, is becoming more and more frequently used in my country – firstly, after occupation and illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the Russian Federation, when flows of internally displaced persons started to leave the peninsula. Soon their number significantly increased with subversive activities of the Russian Federation in the South East of Ukraine.
The Government of Ukraine is doing its best to settle the acute problems of IDPs, to find durable solutions based upon the recommendations by the reputable organizations, first of all, of the UN system. Our openness and cooperation with the relevant UN institutions and mechanisms are well known, in particular with the OHCHR, UNHCR, and UN Special Rapporteur on IDPs who last week visited our country on the invitation by the Ukrainian Government and whose proposals will be duly taken into account for improving the situation with IDPs.
We also truly appreciate the corresponding aid delivered by a number of states to the population of the South-Eastern regions of Ukraine. At the same time we emphasize that such assistance is to be provided in strict compliance with the relevant international rules, norms and standards in close cooperation with and full respect to the ICRC and under its auspices. There should not be any attempts of voluntary interpretation of timing, way of transportation, identification of the needs and the principles of the international law as such, so often undertaken nowadays by Russia.
Mr. Chairman,
Safety, security and appropriate living conditions of our citizens are the matter of principle for the leadership of Ukraine. President Poroshenko’s Peace Plan foresees, among other steps, revitalization of the destabilized regions to ensure return of those displaced to their homes as soon as possible.The corresponding Government’s Action Plan "Recovery of Ukraine" also serves this goal.
Ukraine strictly adheres to the agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group on September 5 in Minsk.Despite the agreed ceasefire, the illegal armed groups supported by Russia continue terrorizing the local inhabitants forcing them to flee. At least 13 civilians were killed by them after the truce was set.
Whatever the Russian delegation propagates on the issueof the humanitarian situation with the Ukrainian IDPs and refuges, it is obvious that this country is directly engaged in destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and responsible for the flows of IDPs and migrants.
The Russian Federation, if it really wants to care about the needs of displaced Ukrainians, must, first of all, withdraw its military units from Ukraine’s territory and stop supporting terrorists with weaponry and trained mercenaries. In this case the situation in the southeast of Ukraine will quickly stabilize without any further need of sending multi-kilometer Russian convoys of half empty trucks.
I thank you.