Intervention by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNGA Third Committee meeting

Intervention by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNGA Third Committee meeting

Mr. Chair,

At the outset, my delegation would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the UN Secretary-General for the release of 12 reports, and among them of the first ever report “Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine” pursuant to the provisions of the UN General Assembly resolution 73/263. We also shall thank you, your Excellency, for the presentation of this report.

Ukraine attaches exceptional importance to the implementation of UNGA resolutions 71/205, 72/190 and 73/263, in particular the provisions regarding unimpeded access for international monitoring mechanisms to Crimea where human rights have been under constant abuse by the Russian occupying power since early 2014.

We commend the work of the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) and commit to continue our close cooperation with the Mission. The Mission recommendations help us to ensure progress in achieving the highest international standards in the field of human rights.

We also note the tremendous efforts of the High Commissioner’s Office in preparing the SG report on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

We would like to emphasize that despite the denial of entry to the Ukrainian peninsula by the Russian Federation, the monitoring of human rights situation in the occupied Crimea shall be continued. At the same time, acknowledging the efforts of the UN OHCHR in distant monitoring of the situation, we continue to insist on and call for a direct reporting from the ground. We urge the international community to redouble its efforts to ensure unimpeded access to Crimea.

Ukraine takes note of all conclusions and recommendations of the UN Secretary-general and would like to stress that the access shall be insured by the Russian Federation without any preconditions and in accordance with the provisions of the UNGA resolution 68/262. I shall also like to ask, Your Excellency, while reporting to the UN GA to pay special attention to the main root causes of the human rights violations and abuses in Crimea, namely the — foreign aggression and temporary occupation of the peninsula by the Russian Federation.

In conclusion, according to the report, the Russian Federation encourages transfer of its own population to the Ukrainian peninsula, which is a direct violation of the Geneva Conventions and a clear sign of the attempt to change the demographic structure of Crimea. I will appreciate your advise on the steps and actions to be taken by the UN in general and the General Assembly in particular to stop transferring of the Russian population to Crimea and prevent consequences of such actions of the occupying power.

Thank you.