105th Session of the Council of the International Organization for Migration
Intervention by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
November 28, 2014
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Director-General,
Distinguished delegates,
The delegation of Ukraine commends the Director-General for his able leadership of the Organization in its tireless efforts to help people all over the world and the IOM staff for their dedication and hard work, often in difficult and dangerous situations.
The strong role played by the IOM in humanitarian and migration crises that we have seen over the last year is highly commendable.
My Government values close partnership with the Organization, which covers a broad range of issues in humanitarian area, in particular, in migration management and in the field of readmission.
We are grateful for the assistance provided by the IOM to the Government of Ukraine in evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from overseas hot spots and aiding internally displaced persons in my country.
Since last April more than 458 000 people were forced to leave their homes on the territories in the southeast of Ukraine terrorized by illegal armed groups supported by Russia and even regular Russian Army servicemen. Moreover, about 20 thousand persons left the occupied and illegally annexed Crimea because of continued deterioration of the human rights situation therein.
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.
Last October the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law on the internally displaced persons aimed at safeguarding the rights of IDP's and facilitating their homecoming, protecting these people from discrimination.
This document upon being signed by the President came into force on November 22nd. At the same time the Ukrainian authorities are truly committed to further improve – as soon as possible, after the beginning of the work of the newly elected Parliament – this important piece of legislation in order to even better protect the IDPs rights, in particular on access to education, employment, settlement, social payments, health-care etc.
We are grateful to friendly governments of neighboring countries which received a number of those who had to migrate because of the reasons I highlighted earlier.
At the same time I cannot omit mentioning the attitude towards Ukrainian refugees by the Russian authorities, whose actions in fact forced them to seek refuge. They are being resettled lately in remote regions of the Russian Federation, including northeast of Siberia and the Far East, in unfitted conditions, that causes our profound concern.
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.
We also truly appreciate the corresponding aid delivered by a number of states to the population of the southeastern 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,
Mr. Director-General,
Distinguished delegates,
To conclude, I would like to congratulate the Independent State of Samoa and new observers on their joining the IOM and reiterate Ukraine’s support to the Organization’s activities and efforts of its leadership in enhancing the IOM effectiveness.
I thank you.