The Situation in Ukraine: Threats to international peace and security.

 
Ms. Khalila Hackman
Counsellor, Legal Advisor
18th March 2022
Security Council Chamber,
United Nations,
New York
 

Mr. President,
My delegation is grateful to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for her briefing to the Council.

Mr. President,
We have taken note of the information provided to the Council. Once again, we re-affirm our belief that a conclusive determination of Ukraine’s biological programmes can only be made after due assessments by the relevant internationally accredited bodies. As we previously stated the weaponization of chemical or biological agents in the war in Ukraine or anywhere else, would be unconscionable and should not be contemplated by any party.
 
The international community must forge consensus towards the establishment of a verification regime for the Biological Weapons Convention in view of recent global developments, including the COVID-19 pandemic. We maintain that the possession or proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, including chemical and biological weapons, neither assures international peace nor national security. We must work collectively to ensure the elimination of all such weapons.
 
What is pressing, Mr. President, is the urgent need for the cessation of hostilities and the unconditional and immediate withdrawal by the Russian Federation of all its invading troops from the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine. Increasingly, this conflict is having ramifications beyond the borders of Ukraine. The consequent price hikes in food and gas prices are impacting in a negative way the already fragile global economy which is yet to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. By this unjustified war, the believes of many across the world have been put in peril. We therefore welcome the Secretary-General’s intention to mobilise global action to mitigate the impact of the war and support all efforts to enhance international solidarity.
 
We bemoan the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation and call on the warring parties to respect and comply with their commitments and obligations under international law, international humanitarian law and human rights laws. Civilians must be protected from harm. Civilian Infrastructure must not be the target of military bombardments. Safe passage must be provided for the people who are fleeing to safety. We call for an immediate end to the attacks on medical and other critical facilities and also call for the protection of humanitarian and medical personnel.
 
Mr. President,
We encourage the sustenance of the on-going talks between the negotiators of the two sides and hope that they would yield an early breakthrough for the peaceful settlement of this conflict.
 
I thank you for the kind attention.