UN Security Council Meeting: Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine

HAROLD_AGYEMAN

 

Mr. President
Let me begin by thanking USG Rosemary Di Carlo for the timely updates on the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. I also warmly welcome to this meeting all rule 37 and rule 39 participants. Ghana deeply regrets the unrelenting hostilities, several months into the start of this needless conflict, in spite of the mounting civilian death toll and the extensive destruction caused to economic infrastructure, cultural sites, monuments and livelihoods. We also continue to worry deeply about the expanding humanitarian threat as more civilians, particularly children, women, the aged and persons with disability, come under the barrage of crossfires and are forced to flee their homes or to shelter in bunkers with limited access to food, clean water and basic services.
 
As we have forcefully stated previously, infrastructure and livelihoods could potentially be rebuilt after the war but the tragic reality is that the human lives lost to this senseless conflict cannot be recovered. It is for this reason that we wish to use this opportunity to renew our call on the Russian Federation to stop this war and to heed to the international community’s call to unconditionally withdraw all its invading troops from the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine. In making this genuine call on the Russian Federation, we are mindful of and acknowledge the stated security concerns, which we believe could be effectively addressed by pacific settlement, as provided for by the Charter of the United Nations (UN), through intense diplomacy, underpinned by unconditional dialogue and a commitment to cooperation. The solution required is certainly not a military one but a consensual political settlement that takes into account all the security concerns of the parties and assures the stability of the entire region.
 
Mr. President,
Ghana is also constrained to deplore the persisting inability of this Council to support the parties to engage in substantial discussions about urgent ceasefire and peace initiatives despite
the Charter obligation on the Council to shoulder the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The current situation affects the reputation of the Council and
undermines its credibility as an effective arbiter in other conflict theatres. In the light of the Council’s handicap, Ghana encourages and affirms its steadfast support to the continued deployment of the good offices of the Secretary-General in the international endeavour to bring an end to the war and facilitate a diplomatic solution to the on-going security and humanitarian crises in Ukraine. In this context, Ghana commends the Secretary-General and other actors for the positive engagement of the parties to the Ukrainian conflict, culminating in the landmark agreement on the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports, signed in Istanbul on 22 July 2022. We also welcome the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the United Nations Secretariat on promoting the access of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets. Ghana takes note the official inauguration of the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul and remains confident of the prospect of a swift and effective implementation of the agreements in order for commercial operations to resume in the Black Sea and contribute substantially in helping to stabilize international prices of food and fertilizers, which are currently priced beyond the capacity of many consumers and users.
 
Mr. President,
These are difficult times for Ukraine and we are pained by the traumatic circumstances that the people of Ukraine have been forced into by the war. The mental impact, especially on children, is likely to have devastating consequences for several years to come. In this connection, humanitarian efforts should not only focus on the physical needs of the affected civilians but also on their psychological needs and emotional health, as the damage of the war would result in long-lasting psychological trauma. In conclusion, I would like to remind all actors, including the parties to the conflict that the protection and safety of civilians should drive our efforts to facilitate a peaceful settlement of the conflict. As a Council, we have an urgent and collective responsibility to invest in the peace of Ukraine and avoid actions that reinforce the security apprehensions of the parties and only serves to perpetuate a needless war.
 
I thank you.